Kidnapping racket busted in Assam

Kokrajhar, Nov 6 (UNI) A major kidnapping and extortion racket was busted by Assam Police in lower Assam's Chirang district today with the arrest of top three leaders of a group.

The 'chairman', 'vice-chairman' and 'secretary' of an outfit, United Liberation Front of Bodoland, along with two other members were arrested from Bengtol area, under Basugaon police station, near the Indo-Bhutan border.

Police had launched a massive search operation after one Md Shahi, a local businessman, was abducted this morning. The raids led to the rescue of Shahi and the five persons were arrested.

One 9 mm pistol was also recovered from them.

Kidnapping and extortion rackets have emerged as 'business' in the area, with regular abductions of local people, whose release is bought by the families.

Police, earlier, also arrested several people in similar cases.

Investigations have been launched for tracking other members of the outfit as well as rescue persons in captivity.

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