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Taxi driver released after 5 days

By Biplab Kr Dey

TURA, July 20 � A private taxi driver from Dhubri in Assam, who was kidnapped about six days ago from Baromile-Kherapara road in West Garo Hills, was released at about 6 am yesterday.

The area is about 20 kms from here and the driver, Ansar Ali was kidnapped by a group of four men in camouflage, who stopped the car on their way to Dalu, about 50 kms from Tura.

Initial reports indicate that the kidnapping was a case of mistaken identity with the kidnappers suspecting wrongly that Ali was a coal businessman. Ali was with his younger brother when he was stopped by the armed men in an Alto car on July 13. Ali stopped as the four were dressed like policemen. However, as soon as he stopped, one of them pointed a gun at his head and covered his head, before taking him into the nearby jungles. His car and brother were left to return.

A family member of the victim said, �He was released at about 6 am yesterday. A call was made to us to come and collect him�.

�A demand of Rs 10 lakh was made to us immediately on the day he was kidnapped. We told them that we could not pay and also that he was not a coal businessman, but a mere taxi driver. Later, it appears they verified it and let him go�, said another family member. The victim has complained of severe beatings while in captivity.

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