Assam: Abducted Meghalaya Youths Rescued from Amlighat, 4 Suspects Detained

GUWAHATI: Three youths who were abducted from Meghalaya by a gang of four individuals demanding a ransom of Rs 10 lakh, have been successfully rescued by a police team in the Amlighat area of Assam's Morigaon district. The gang members responsible for the abduction have been apprehended in Hojai and Nagaon districts. The arrested individuals are Abdul Hannan from Joynagar, Habib Ahmed from Charing Pathar, Fatir Ahmed from Changmaji, and driver Manav Jyoti Konwar from Chekoni Gohai Gaon. However, two members of the gang are still at large.

The three rescued youths have been identified as Jolanki Nanglein, Fainali Nanglein, and Ribatomi Khalem, hailing from Jowai in Meghalaya's West Jaintia Hills district. They had traveled to Jagiroad to purchase dry fish when they were deceived by the gang and taken to a house in Amlighat, where they were held captive. The gang demanded a ransom of Rs 10 lakh from their families and also seized their Bolero pickup van, bearing registration number ML04D4262.

“But the gang lured them to a house at Amlighat and confined them demanding a ransom of Rs 10 lakh. The Bolero pickup van bearing registration number ML04D4262 was also seized by the gang with them,” Das said.

The police were alerted about the abduction by a phone call from the officer-in-charge of Jowai police station. Acting swiftly, the officer in charge of Jagiroad police station tracked the abducted youths to a house near Amlighat using mobile tracking technology. The rescue operation was conducted late at night, leading to the successful liberation of the captives.

During their ordeal, the gang not only extorted Rs 20,000 and gold rings from the youths but also filmed them holding flour powder and threatened to label them as drug dealers, planning to send the incriminating video to their families and the police. Initially, the gang demanded a ransom of Rs 10 lakh, which was later reduced to Rs 4 lakh.

“The gang had snatched away Rs 20,000 and gold rings from the youths. They also videotaped the youths holding flour powder in their hands and threatened them to send the video to the families and hand them over to the police as drug dealers. Initially, they demanded Rs 10 lakh, which was reduced to Rs 4 lakh,” Das further said.

Disturbingly, the victims' families had already paid Rs 30,000 as ransom to the kidnappers via Google Pay. The police intend to reunite the rescued youths with their families and are actively searching for the owner of the house where they were confined, who is currently on the run.

The successful rescue operation in Amlighat highlights the collaborative efforts between Assam and Meghalaya authorities to combat cross-border crimes and protect the well-being of citizens.

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