After a fortnight under captivity, State Bank of India (SBI) employee Subodh Kumar, was released unharmed by his armed captors along the Indo-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya's South Garo Hills district, a senior police officer said here today.
"Mishra was released late last night near Shibbari village in South Garo Hills district and the police were currently doing their job. They (militants) were pressurised to release him due to ongoing search operations," Inspector General of Police (Western Range) H Nongpluh told PTI.
Mishra was abducted on August 5 while he was on his way back from work by five armed militants near Chiringpara village. He is safe and he is having sound health, the IGP said while confirming the kidnapping to be the handiwork of the ASAK militant group.
The bank official was released by his captors near the village of Sibbari, on the Indo-Bangla border at about 11:30 PM last night, where he stayed over in a school room before boarding the bus to Dalu this morning, a senior district police officer said.
The police team, which had already got the news of his release, escorted him from the bus from where he was brought to Dalu and sent to the Dalu PHC for a medical examination before being brought to the Tura PS where his statement was recorded.
According to a visibly shaken Mishra, he was made to walk for about 6 hours on the day of the kidnap and there were about 5-10 people that guarded him all the time.
He told reporters in Tura that he had not spoken to his family and was unaware of what had transpired for his release.
The release of Mishra was a sigh of relief for the SBI whose staff association had earlier observed strike demanding security for banks in the militant hit Garo Hills region.
"We are really happy for his safe release and would like to thank all for their support and prayers. We can now start looking at normalising operations of the bank. A decision to that effect will be made by the Guwahati regional headquarters," Nixon Joseph, Assistant General Manager, SBI, Garo Hills division, told reporters.
