Abducted officials untraced

Shillong, May 2 (UNI) The Meghalaya government is yet to ascertain the whereabouts of the two customs officials, who were abducted by suspected United Achick National Front (UANF) militants a week ago from the West Garo Hills district bordering Bangladesh.

Though senior police officials maintained that the two officials, Superintendent Dharani Bora and Inspector Mrinal Sharma, have been taken into Bangladesh by the abductors, Chief Minister D D Lapang said there wasn't enough evidence to prove that.

''We are yet to confirm that the two officials are in Bangladesh territory now. Investigation is going on and we are trying our best to secure their safe release,'' Mr Lapang told newspersons here yesterday.

''We will be able to approach the central government to pressurise Bangladesh on the matter only after we confirm that they have been taken into that country,'' he said.

Militants in Meghalaya, bordering the international border with Bangladesh, often sneak into the neighbouring country after creating trouble.

The two customs officials were abducted on April 26 at gunpoint from Gasupara area in the West Garo Hills district, about 400 km from here.

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