TURA, June 16 � The spree of kidnappings in the Garo Hills region has shown no signs of waning. The latest victim was the State Bank of India (SBI) Branch Manager of Ampati who was kidnapped at gunpoint today by three unknown miscreants.
Arvind Kumar, the Branch Manager of Ampati branch of SBI was on his way to Ampati from Guwahati when his vehicle was stopped by three men with automatic pistols at Rangatari near Garobadha Bridge around 9 am today. He was then taken at gun point along with his driver to a nearby jungle where his driver was sent back with his vehicle (AS 01 AP 3337).
A massive combing operation has been launched to nab the suspected unidentified militants involved in the abduction of Kumar. �Security forces from West and South West Garo Hills is conducting a joint operation along Garobadha -Rangsakona area�, said SP West Garo Hills Mukesh Singh.
The police said Kumar was travelling with his driver Sanjay Mahanta, who hails from Mankachar in Assam. He is being questioned. �First, they asked for money and on his refusal, the three militants sat in the vehicle and forced the driver to take the vehicle to Rangsakona. After reaching there, they held the manager and asked the driver to return with his vehicle�, said Singh.
Kumar joined SBI as a probationary officer in 2008. He started his career as assistant manager of Chandmari branch in Tura. After his promotion last year, he was posted to Ampati as its branch manager. He hails from Bihta in Bihar.
The Assistant General Manager of SBI Garo Hills, Nixon Joseph has appealed to the abductors to release the official, who has come from outside to serve the region and its people. SBI is trying its best to develop Garo Hills and incidents like this would only dampen our efforts to do more for Garo Hills�, he added.
