Kidnapped Arunachali businessman released on payment of Rs Five lakhs

ROING, Feb 7: An Arunachali businessman, kidnapped by five gunmen in Assam, was released yesterday after the ransom demand of Rs 5 lakh was paid. He was in captivity of unidentified gunmen for three days and two nights in the jungles of Sadiya sub-division of Assam.

An FIR has been lodged with the Superintendent of Police of Tinsukia district in Assam, and at the Roing Police Station. According to the complaint lodged, on February 2, the victim along with a friend were on their way to Tinsukia on a motorcycle bearing registration number AR-16/4871 when two unknown persons stopped them and took to an undisclosed location at gun point. They were later joined by a group of armed men. The friend was let free after being stripped of all his belongings, while the businessman was kept in captivity.


The kidnappers then took him to an ATM and asked him to withdraw all his money. Enraged at finding a meager balance in the account, the gunmen tortured the businessman through the night and demanded a ransom of Rs 5 lakhs the next day from his wife at Roing and threatened to kill him if the money was not paid or if the matter was reported to the police.


Reacting to the incident, Unti Umbrey, President of All Idu Mishmi Students Union (AIMSU), recalling an earlier incident of an Arunachali swine dealer being beaten up by local people in Assam, termed both incidents as unfortunate. The latest incident of kidnapping and demand of ransom money may encourage other groups from Assam to adopt such tactics on Arunachali people to earn easy money, he cautioned.


The Union called for the issue to be explored and addressed through consultation at the inter-State ministerial level to avoid brewing of any hostility. It, however, warned that if prompt action was not initiated by the authorities, it would launch a mass agitation.
 Calling for a peaceful solution, Tone Mickrow, AIMSU Chief Advisor, suggested peaceful dialogue amongst the communities living along the inter-State boundary for prevention of similar incidents.