Kidnapped Meghalaya official released unharmed

Shillong: A Meghalaya government official, abducted by militant outfit Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA), was released unharmed after seven days early Tuesday, police said.

Jude Rangku T Sangma, the block development officer of Chokpot in south Garo Hills district "was released unharmed" at Allagre village, Inspector General of Police (western range), FD Sangma told IANS.

"The officer has reached his parental home at Tura this morning. He is resting now and we will talk to him later in the day," Sangma said.

Jude's "unconditional release" by the militants comes after public pressure from several quarters, including political parties, demanding for his immediate and unconditional release.

On October 27, the GNLA militants abducted the officer on ransom from Diganggre area in south Garo Hills district while he was on his way to Tura, district headquarters of west Garo Hills.

The officer, posted in Chokpot block, a militant hub, for more than two years, had received several threats and extortion demands from the GNLA but he did not pay heed to them. 

However, the GNLA claimed that the officer was kidnapped for indulging in "corrupt practices".

The militants even threatened to eliminate the officer while demanding a stop to counter-insurgency operations in insurgency-ravaged districts of Garo Hills in western Meghalaya.

The GNLA is fighting for a separate Garoland in the western part of Meghalaya.