TURA, OCT 2: The Assam-Meghalaya Peace Forum on Sunday urged the police administration of Garo hills to ensure safe rescue of eight traders, who are still in the custody of militants.
A group of armed gunmen had abducted nine traders from a village near Chokpot in South Garo Hills on September 29. Yesterday, one of the traders managed to escape.
Chief convenor of the forum Moniruz Zaman Moni said, “We conveyed our demands to the Meghalaya police in a meeting with the Tura SP to ensure all steps are taken for the rescue of the traders”.
A delegation of the forum had accompanied South Salmara Additional SP Dhrubajyoti Bora and an army team to Tura to bring back fifty year old Saher Ali, one of the nine abducted traders, who managed to escape from the militants in remote Chokpot region.
The abductor has reportedly demanded Rs. 20 lakh for the release of the traders, who were all from South Salmara – Mancachar district of Assam.
The peace forum is also seeking the imposition of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in the troubled region to contain the rising crime and abduction.
“The peopkle from both the sides of the inter-state border are suffering from cases of kidnappings and murder. These crimes need to be stopped and AFSPA must be imposed,” asserted Moni.
The forum is also pressing the state government in Meghalaya to provide compensation for the families whose loved ones have been killed by both criminals and militants alike.
On the reasons for traders still going into militancy affected areas, the forum chief said, “It is because of their economic compulsion that they are compelled to visit sensitive places to make a living by selling their goods and earn some money for their families.”-From Our Correspondent
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