TURA, May 22 � Tension ran high around the Assam-Meghalaya border after two traders, who were kidnapped on May 15, were not released even after their families paid ransom money.
Police suspect the kidnapping to be the handiwork of a mixed gang. No FIR was filed by the family and it was only after the money was paid to the kidnappers that the matter came to light.
According to sources, the two young traders had gone to Tura to register a vehicle they had bought. However, while returning they were kidnapped at gun point by some miscreants from Ghoramara village under Garobadha PS in West Garo Hills.
The two, Akidul Islam (19) and Humayun hailed from Mankachar�s College Nagar area.
After the kidnapping, the kidnappers demanded Rs 5 lakh each for their release. However, after negotiation, the amount was fixed at Rs 2 lakh. The amount was paid by the families of the victims on May 18, but the victims were not released.
Immediately after the payment of ransom, the kidnappers severed all contact with the families of the victims and all attempts to contact them proved futile.
SP of South West Garo Hills, Aditya Goenka and DC, Ram Singh, along with ASP of Mankachar, D Borah, visited the families of the victims and assured them of all support from Meghalaya police to help locate the victims and ensure their safe return.
A source in Mankachar said, this is the fourth such case of kidnap victims remaining untraced while there were three cases of kidnap victims being killed even after payment of ransom money.