TURA, Jan 31 � Suspected Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) militants kidnapped the brother of Garo Hills legislator Samuel Sangma from South Garo Hills district, police said today.
Sangma�s younger brother Naga M Sangma, 39, was kidnapped by a group of four suspected GNLA militants from his house at Gasuapara area last night, Additional SP of South Garo Hills Abraham Sangma said.
Police suspect that the militants had abducted him for ransom as he is a coal exporter to Bangladesh. However, no ransom call has so far been received by his family.
�I don�t know the reason for his abduction. I have no idea if the rebels had served him an extortion note,� Samuel Sangma said.
Several militant groups operating in Garo Hills have served extortion notes to petrol pump owners, coal dealers and businessmen in the coal-rich districts of Garo Hills.
Meghalaya police along with Central paramilitary forces have launched a search operation to rescue Naga.
The GNLA led by police officer-turned-rogue Champion R Sangma is fighting for a separate Garoland. However, Sangma is currently in Shillong district jail.