By Anjuman Ara Begum,
Kidnappings, extortions and killings have become a daily tale of people living in the Assam-Meghalaya border near Mankachar – a business town in Dhubri district of Assam. Because of its unique geographical location, the town has become a hub for local traders and a supply point for Meghalaya mainly Garo Hills. However, kidnappings by unknown miscreants for ransom are taking place on a routine basis, creating fear among the local traders.
On 31st May 2015, the body of an 80-year-old man was recovered at the village Damalgre in West Garo Hills, creating tension among the local people of Mankachar and nearby areas. The old man identified as Abdul Mannan, was a small trader of Mankachar’s Kalupara village. Along with his 12-year-old grandson, he was kidnapped a day before while they were travelling towards Meghalaya border for business purposes. It is reported that they went missing from Ampati, a trade town in South West Garo Hills district. The duo was missing since 10 am of 30th May 2015 and the family filed a missing case at Monabari police outpost of the same district. Sources said that Mannan received gunshot wound in his head. The 12 –year old grandson is still missing.
Following the recovery of the body, nearly 2000 people came out protesting and gathered in front of the residence of the victim. They expressed dissatisfaction over functioning of Meghalaya Police. The crowd became violent and police allegedly resorted to rubber pellets to disburse the crowd as they pelted stones at the police and CRPF personnel at Kalughat area in Assam-Meghalaya Border. No group claimed responsibility for the kidnapping and murder.
Biplop Dey, a local journalist informed that situation became tense and if the missing boy was not recovered, the security situation may deteriorate further and go out of control.
Two other persons Akidul Islam, 19-year son of Abdul Bari and Humayun, son of Nasir Ahmed, resident of Mankachar were kidnapped and were missing since May 14. They were abducted by some miscreants from Ghoramara near Garobadha Police station of West Garo Hills. The kidnappers contacted the family and demanded 2 lakh rupees as ransom; however, since then the family lost contact with the kidnappers as they switched off their cell phones.
The kidnapping, extortion and killings are not new incident but a pattern being witnessed in the region for last two decades. Earlier, a higher secondary school teacher from a reputed school of Tura was kidnapped from the vicinity of his house in the town of Mankachar along the Assam-Meghalaya border. Iqbal Rafique, aged about 45 years who was teaching English in the higher secondary section of the Tura Christian Girls’ School was kidnapped in October last year and was released after allegedly paying ransom to an unknown group.
Recent kidnapping of Gaganendra Sanyal, 70-year-old teacher and physical instructor in Ramakrishna Mission, Jekabari of West Garo Hills created shock waves among the people of Garo Hills. He popularised the Scouts and Guides Movement in Garo Hills and received awards from Governor and President of India. He was picked up on 9th May and was released on 22nd May. Police arrested three people from Meghalaya and two from Assam and another two were killed in ambush during the rescue operations.
Dikanchi D. Shira, MLA of Mahendraganj constituency of Meghalaya State Assembly was contacted over phone and she assured of every measure to curb this menace. She said government is taking care of everything and trying best to counter these petty goons engaged in extortion and murder.
Aminul Islam, lawyer and leader of All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) said that the people of Mankachar are dependent on Meghalaya due to its geographical location and the presence of international border in one side and the Brahmaputra River on the other. People of Mankachar market their agricultural products and supply man power like labourers to Meghalaya. He believes Meghalaya’s internal political clash is responsible for the situation as one section of the rivals is trying hard to defame Mukul Samga, Chief Minister of Meghalaya by creating communal disharmony among the Garo tribe and Muslims and this tug of war victimises the innocents. Aminul informed that issue has been raised in Parliament and Assemblies of Assam and Meghalaya and also individually with the chief ministers of both states but no fruitful result has come. He urged the Central government to take urgent step. Aminul has visited the area earlier and informed that the victims are not able to file the FIRs as Assam Police are insisting the victims to file the cases at the place of kidnapping while as per the Indian Penal Code, the victims can file cases at their village of residence. The victims are afraid to travel to the place of kidnapping to file cases. Hence none of the cases are registered and no legal aid is received by the victims and their families, Aminul informed.
Sulema Khatun, former school teacher and activist from the neighbouring area of Mankachar said that prevailing fear psychosis prevent free movement of people and thus affects their livelihood. She thinks that political rivalry may be one of the causes behind all these crimes of kidnapping, extortion and murder.
According to Biplop Dey, kidnapping points are scattered and there is not enough force to prevent such incidents and miscreants formed mixed group of people belonging to both Assam and Meghalaya and Assam side miscreants act as spotters and collectors and the Meghalaya counterpart took them away and carry out the rest of the crime. The administration has only provided consolatory services as damage control rather than damage prevention, Biplop added.
