TURA, Sept 8 � The activities of the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) appear to be consolidating in West Garo Hills district with another contractor being kidnapped by the group, this time from Kherapara area on Wednesday night.
While police have been trying to flush out GNLA militants involved in the kidnapping of 1st class contractor Abdul Rashid of Rajabala who was abducted from Haldibari bridge near Selsella last week, another group of heavily-armed militants waylaid Dalu-based contractor Dipok Saha at Kherapara Songma and took him away at gunpoint.
Kherapara is 23 kms from Tura and 17 kms from Dalu border town.
Both Dipok and Bimol Saha are top contractors of Dalu who deal with government works. They also run a successful coal export firm from Dalu to Bangladesh.
Dipok Saha was returning from Tura to his hometown Dalu on Wednesday night when as many as ten to eleven well armed and camouflage dressed Garo militants stopped his Tata DI pick up at Kherapara Songma and asked him to follow them.
The militants took the contractor through the nearby jungle route towards the dense forests of Chokpot and Durama hill range leaving behind the driver in the vehicle.
On receiving news of the abduction, a massive combing operation was launched from several locations of both South and West Garo Hills districts to trace the abducted contractor. The family has denied receiving any demand note from the militants.