Militants kidnap Dimasa trader

Silchar, Feb 8 (UNI) Suspected members of Dima Halam Daoga (Black Widow), abducted Nabaranja Barman, an affluent trader belonging to Dimasa community, on Tuesday, police said today.

Police said the leader was kidnapped at gunpoint from his house at Kumacherra, about 50 km from here.

Police suspect that the kidnappers might have taken Mr Barman to the neighbouring NC Hill district.

About 12 militants, with AK rifles, raided Mr Barman's house and whisked him away, sources said.

Cachar Additional Suprintendent of Police Pranab Joyti Goswami said police and security forces had conducted searches in the area, along with Cachar-NC Hills border in south Asom.

''However, we had to encounter some technical constraints due to non-availability of any FIR and denial to make any statements by family members to the police,'' Mr Goswami said.

The DHD, which so far had its presence in Umrangshu, Mahur, Maibang and other areas of NC Hills, has recently extended its reach to the Dimasa-inhabited areas of neighbouring Cachar district of south Asom.

UNI