GNLA:BDO blamed us for taking Rs 40 cr

TURA,OCT 28: Even as the GNLA has claimed responsibility for kidnapping Block Development Officer (BDO) of Chokpot Jude Rangku T Sangma on Tuesday, the Meghalaya police has launched an intensive operation to rescue him.

The BDO was waylaid at Deku Deganggre on gunpoint, while he along with two others were en route to Tura in an official government vehicle yesterday between 6:30 – 7 pm.

“We launched our operation yesterday evening, once we got the information that the BDO was abducted by the militants”, said Lakador Syiem, South Garo hills SP informed.

The SP informed that operation has been launched in the entire Chokpot region with additional forces called in from other districts of Garo hills. “The BDO had attended a funeral at Deku and was proceeding to Tura, when he was stopped by four suspected GNLA rebel. They chased the two others and held the BDO hostage. The vehicle was left behind”, Syiem added.

The BDO was driving the vehicle, as his driver was on leave.  He also informed that the statement of the two men have been recorded by the police, who are eyewitness to the incident.

In a release issued to the media in local language by the western range commander Hedio C Momin alias Karak Momin, the outfit today claimed responsibility for the abduction. The outfit claimed that the BDO had replied to the chief minister that 40 crore meant for black topping of Chokpot road was taken away by the outfit and the situation was not conducive for initiating development works.

“We have not taken any money from the BDO whatsoever till date. We have abducted him to find out why he lied to the chief minister”, the outfit said.

They also claimed that the BDO when confronted by villagers on the non-payment of wages of 248 villages for works initiated under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) amount to Rs. 20 crore, he (BDO) had replied to the villagers that the money was taken away by the government for the Chokpot by-election.

The BDO is a 2010 Meghalaya Civil Service batch cadre and had been posted in Chokpot for the past two years. Police claimed that the BDO had received several threats and extortion demand by the GNLA.-From Our Correspondent