West Garo Hills police have arrested five people over the last two days who are suspects in a kidnapping of a fishmonger, Sayful Islam, a resident of Bogulurbhia, under Tikrikilla Police Station.
The trader, who had gone to supply fish to a marriage party, reportedly went missing on December 6. A ransom of Rs 15 lakh to be paid in three days was made from the phone of the victim, allegedly by the gang members, to Islam’s family.
Police leapt into action after information of the crime was received and a search party was launched. Due to persistent efforts by the police, the victim was recovered from the house of the Nokma of Bandagre but the abductors managed to flee the scene.
According to police sources, the kidnappers had been tentatively identified after which efforts to nab them were undertaken.
The efforts of the police team bore fruit leading to the arrest of one gang member. The arrested has been identified as Chijang A Sangma (19), of Bajengdoba, from whose house one motorbike, two mobile phones and one khukri were seized. He was arrested on Tuesday.
Further questioning by the police led to the arrest of four more members of the same gang. The arrested have been identified as Maruti N Marak, Sengrak Ch Marak, Bilbit N Sangma and Chekan Sangma. They are all residents of the village of Kamari Tikrikilla and were arrested yesterday.