SHILLONG, Oct 2 (IANS) - Police have launched an operation in western Meghalaya to rescue a state government official and his driver abducted by Garo militants, an official said Saturday.
Five armed rebels from the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) abducted R Syngkon, the district transport officer of East Garo Hills district, and his driver from his official residence in Williamnagar Thursday.
"The search operation is on and we are putting all efforts to rescue the abducted people safely," East Garo Hills district police chief Sylvester Nongtynger told IANS.
The GNLA earlier had sent extortion demands of Rs.60 lakh to Syngkon through mobile text messages.
"The GNLA has not contacted the family members of Syngkon and the driver for ransom," Nongtynger said.
The GNLA, which is fighting for a sovereign Garoland in the western Meghalaya, has links with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah, the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB).
The outfit, headed by police officer-turned-rogue Champion R Sangma, had sent extortion demands ranging from Rs.30 lakh to Rs.60 lakh each to three government officials through mobile text messages in July.
A Cabinet minister in the previous DD Lapang ministry revealed in March that he had received a number of text messages from the GNLA, asking him to "contribute to the organisation or face the consequences".
The former minister, who did not wish to be named, claimed some Garo legislators too had received such text messages.
Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh said government officials posted in Garo Hills region have been directed not to comply with the extortion demands of the GNLA.
"We have directed all government officials to report all extortion notices to police or else face legal action if the government finds them complying to the militants' demands," Lyngdoh told IANS.
The GNLA had earlier slapped extortion demands ranging from Rs.5 lakh to Rs.1 crore on petrol pump owners, coal dealers and businessmen in the coal-rich districts of Garo Hills.
