Resubelpara(Meghalaya), Sep 13: In another brazen act, a member of the AAYF – Dainadubi unit in North Garo Hills (NGH) was allegedly kidnapped from the NGO’s office by at least three men before being taken to Damra under Goalpara, Assam and beating brutally assaulted.
The act of kidnapping and assault comes in the wake of the apprehension of a Maruti car that was carrying illegal timber by the Forest Range office of Dainadubi, yesterday.
The incident, as per the FIR filed by one Jeshwell G Momin (47, Depa Garat) who is also a member of AAYF, took place at about 7 PM on Sep 12. The FIR in the matter was filed today, Sep 13.
“Some miscreants entered our office and upon seeing Jeshwell there, accused him of informing the forest office of the movement of timber that was caught yesterday. They not only accused him of informing the forest department but were abusive and would not listen to any explanation,” said president of the AAYF Dainadubi unit, Watson Marak.
Jeshwell was allegedly then kidnapped and taken to the Daglapara parking lot on the NH – 62 near Damra where the victim was assaulted by the 3 miscreants.
Three of the assaulters have been identified by the victim as Dillon D Marak (Depa Garat), Rikkim Sangma (Depa Garat) and Beki Ch Marak (also of Depa Garat).
The assault was so severe that Jeshwell now has hearing issues in one of his ears, deep bruises all over his body and a cut above his eye.
After the assault, the victim was left at Daglapara and managed to summon help from his friends and was taken to the Dainadubi PHC for treatment.
The NGOs have, in addition to the FIR filed by the victim sought a case of attempt to murder, kidnapping, assault among others to be lodged against the perpetrators of the crime. Further they have sought the immediate arrest of the accused for harming one of their members.
Confirming the receipt of the complaint, the superintendent of police, NGH, Abraham T Sangam said an investigation into the matter is being taken up and action would be taken based on it.
Dainadubi has become notorious for various cases of timber smuggling with most of the reserve forest under Chimabangshi being denuded due to the extent of smuggling taking place. The huge number of exit routes into neighboring Assam has only made the situation worse.
