Abducted trader’s body found

The bullet-riddled body of an abducted businessman, Raju Saha, 28, was recovered from the Serfanguri area in Kokrajhar district late last evening.

Police sources said the body, with injury marks in the head, was recovered from near National Highway 31 in Serfanguri.

The body was founda few hours after security forces shot dead an NDFB cadre of the Songbijit faction, Pripri Mushahary, inside Ripu forest in the district.

The police said acting on a tip-off about the presence of some NDFB cadres in the area, a joint team of the police and army carried out a search operation. One NDFB cadre was killed in the exchange of fire that took place yesterday around 1pm. Another escaped. One 7.65mm pistol, two rounds of live ammunition and a mobile phone were recovered from the slain militant.

The militants killed the businessman to avenge the killing of one of their cadres.

Unidentified men from Dotma in Kokrajhar abducted the businessman on the evening of February 2. Saha, whose family owns a stationary shop in Dotma bazaar, was whisked away by three youths, who came in two motorcycles. The men also opened fire in the air as the family members shouted for help. The stationary shop is next to their residence.

The All Assam Bengali Youth Students’ Federation condemned the killing and threatened the militant group involved in the killing and the government of dire consequence if effective measures are not taken immediately, said the federation’s publicity secretary Tapash Mallick.

The Kokrajhar Merchant Association (KMA) also condemned the killing of the businessman and demanded adequate safety and security of people.

Bikash Basumatary, president of Kokrajhar Merchant Association, expressing serious concern over the incidents of kidnapping of businessmen in the region said, “It is a matter of concern for all. The businessmen are kidnapped and served extortion notes and even killed. The administration and the government should provide enough security.”

The Dotma market remained closed today to protest against the killing of the businessman.