SHILLONG, April 1 — Abducted Customs Inspector Dipak Mahanta and three other coal exporters were released from the custody of the banned NDFB in a jungle near Williamnagar in south Garo Hills on March 30 ending the 30 day-old kidnap drama.
Commissioner of Customs, DD Ingti told newsmen this afternoon “I received the information about their release from Mahanta himself last night over telephone.” Mahanta rejoined his widowed mother and sister at his Biswanath Charali residence in Sonitpur district around midnight last. “But for the malnourishment and lack of sleep he has suffered, Mahanta is otherwise physically ok,” Ingti informed.
The Customs Commissioner, however, ruled out automatic revocation of the suspension of exports from the 13 Land Customs Stations (LCS) in the North Eastern States. “Exports will be resumed only after a thorough security review,” he stated. Export of coal, limestone, boulders and other items to Bangladesh was suspended from March 15 onwards following the abduction of Mahanta and six other exporters from Ghasuspara in South Garo Hills on February 28 last by the NDFB.
The militant outfit later demanded a ransom of Rs. 5 crore for the release of the exporters and another Rs. 30 lakh for Mahanta. “The Customs Department have not paid anything to the abductors”, Ingti told the newsmen. Of the remaining three abducted exporters, two were reportedly released by the captors last week.
According to Ingti, of the six abducted exporters, one was left behind by the NDFB as he was injured and hence in no condition to be taken by the abductors. The Customs Commissioner asserted “we are in no hurry to withdraw the suspension of exports till the security at the Land Customs Stations (LCS) are improved.”