TINSUKIA: A manager of a stone crusher unit was reportedly abducted by suspected ULFA(I) militants in Assam's Tinsukia district on Wednesday, according to police. A senior police officer stated that Prakash Chetri was abducted by members of an armed militant group at around 10 a.m. in the Jagun 10 Mile area.
"We are investigating the matter. We suspect ULFA(I) to be behind this. The outfit had been demanding money from small tea garden owners, crusher businesses, and traders in the region for the last few months," he said.
The official stated that the motive behind the abduction is believed to be non-compliance with these extortion demands. A large-scale operation to rescue Chetri has been launched by a joint team of police and army, led by Tinsukia's in-charge SP, Tabu Ram Pegu.
Meanwhile, earlier last month, Moslek Ali, a businessman from Assam, was kidnapped by alleged armed Naga criminals close to the Namtola bridge on the Assam-Nagaland border. The incident took place at around 6:15 PM, causing concern and indignation among the neighbourhood.
A tense situation was created near the border when witnesses said that the miscreants, who are thought to have crossed over from Nagaland, used blank fire and forcibly abducted the merchant.
A grenade was allegedly tossed in front of the businessman's store but it did not detonate. Although there have been no recorded casualties or injuries, the incident had left locals shocked and terrified.
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