Bank official abducted in Meghalaya

Suspected tribal rebels Thursday abducted an official of State Bank of India in Meghalaya’s East Garo Hills district bordering Assam, police said.

V.K. Gupta, the assistant general manager (inspection) of the bank, was kidnapped by four unidentified men from Chotamatia area in East Garo Hills district, said S.K. Jain, Meghalaya Police intelligence chief.

Gupta was abducted while he was proceedings towards Assam after he completed auditing at Mendipathar branch of the bank.

“Four motorcycle-borne youths armed with pistols stopped the vehicle in which Gupta was travelling and abducted him,” Jain told IANS.

Intelligence agencies here suspect it to be the handiwork of Rabha Viper Army — a rebel group operating largely in Rabha tribe-inhabited areas in Assam’s Goalpara district and certain areas of Meghalaya’s East and West Garo Hills districts.