By IANS,
Shillong : A Meghalaya official who was kidnapped by Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) rebels was released unharmed Saturday after 34 days of captivity, police said.
P.K. Boro, the block development officer (BDO) posted at Dadenggre in Meghalaya’s West Garo Hills district, was freed by the rebels in the district, Additional Director General of Police Rajiv Mehta said.
“All that we know now is that Boro has been released. He is at home and resting and we don’t want to disturb him,” Mehta told IANS.
Family members of the freed official said that a woman dropped Boro at his official residence at Babupara in Tura, the district headquarters of West Garo Hills, Saturday morning.
“A lady dropped him in our official quarter in Tura but didn’t say anything,” an elated Boro’s wife Aparajita Mushahary told IANS by phone.
An intelligence official said the victim was released after the rebels were paid a huge ransom. However, police officers refused to comment on it.
“We have not paid any ransom to them to free my husband,” Mushahary added.
On Nov 21, heavily armed GNLA rebels abducted Boro at gunpoint from his official chamber at Dadenggre block. The GNLA threatened to execute Boro if the government refused to withdraw all central forces from Garo Hills region in the western part of Meghalaya.
The GNLA has been demanding for withdrawal of central forces – two units of Combat Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) commandos and five companies of Border Security Force (BSF) troopers – ever since the troops were deployed in Garo Hills area in July.
The tribal Garo outfit, headed by police officer-turned outlaw Champion R. Sangma, has unleashed a reign of terror in the three impoverished districts of Garo Hills.
The GNLA is fighting for a separate Garoland, and has also forged an alliance with the Bangladesh-based rebel group, A’chik Special Dragon Party besides with the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB).