TURA, May 24 � After almost two weeks of captivity, veteran teacher Gaganendra Sanyal was yesterday released in the outskirts of Tura. He was kidnapped on May 9 from Kuralbhanga village in Assam and was released at about 6 pm near Praharinagar, about 12 kms from here.
Though details of whether a ransom payment was made is still sketchy, family sources said that the days spent in captivity has taken a toll on the health of the 70 year-old former teacher of Don Bosco School.
Sanyal was kidnapped from his house and taken to nearby Dolgre village, from where he was made to walk to a village in Dadenggre and then on to the outskirts of Tura.
He is fondly remembered for his contributions and was the recipient of President�s and Governor�s medal for his role in shaping the student community in the Garo Hills region.
Family sources stated that the kidnappers had identified themselves as members of ASAK, though it could not be independently verified.
The West Garo Hills police, however, said that the former teacher was taken to Jelbongpara and was in South West Garo Hills. �There is involvement of a group of people from Rangsakona and we have picked up a suspect for questioning. We were tracking their movement when the kidnappers released him,� said ASP Bruno A Sangma.
He alleged the family was not cooperative, though an amount of Rs 5 lakh is supposed to have exchanged hands. The police also believe that ASAK is behind the kidnapping.