Teacher kidnapped in Garo Hills for Rs 5 cr ransom
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network

Shillong, February 02 2015: 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.

The incident, which happened at about 6.30 am on Sunday has led to widespread condemnation from the people of the region, while the school in which the teacher teaches has appealed for his safe release.

Iqbal Rafique, aged about 45 years who is teaching English in the higher secondary section of the Tura Christian Girls' School was kidnapped early morning while the victim had left his house to collect spare parts for a vehicle owned by his family from the night bus plying to and from Guwahati.

He had left his phone at home and left at about 5 am.

However he was not heard of since he left his house.

Worried family members began to search for him at about 12.30 pm when he did not return but could not find him anywhere.

It was between 2 pm and 4 pm that his family received calls from the kidnappers confirming the abduction as well as a demand for Rs 5 crore for his release.

Rafique's father who is a former Professor in a college, tried to reason with the abductors who spoke fluent Bengali, but according to the family, they refused to budge from the original demand and have set a 2-day deadline for the payment.

An FIR was lodged by his colleagues from the school in the town of Ampati in South West Garo Hills (SWGH), though the kidnapping is said to have happened in Assam.

"An FIR was filed by colleagues this afternoon and we are taking up the case.

Our investigation into the matter is currently on though it is too early to say who could be responsible", said the Superintendent of Police (SP), SWGH, R Muthu.

Operations have been launched by the Assam side as well.

Fingers however have been pointed to the involvement of locals or cross-border kidnappers due to the meticulous planning involved in the kidnapping.

"It is impossible that he was not targeted as the hours are unearthly for a random kidnapping and this points to the involvement of someone who knew his movements," said a local on the condition of anonymity.

Meanwhile, the school authorities who visited the family of the victim have appealed asking for Rafique's safe release.

"We earnestly appeal to all the persons involved in the abduction of Rafique, assistant lecturer, to safely and unconditionally release him.

His safe release would be of great benefit for the students, society and country as a whole", pleaded the Principal, I Ch Momin on behalf of the teaching and non teaching staff of the school.

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