One of the nine traders from Assam abducted by militants in Meghalaya, escaped from the militant's captivity, the police said on Friday.
A police officer said that a manhunt is still on to rescue the other eight traders, abducted by A'chik Songna An'pachakgipa Kotok (ASAK) militants on Thursday morning from Songotagre village, near Chokpot in South Garo Hills district.
Meghalaya's Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) commandos have been pressed into service to trace the hostages.
"We have intensified our operation to secure the safe release of all the traders," Meghalaya police Chief Sunil Kumar Jain told IANS.
Intelligence officials said that Reading T. Sangma, the "commander in chief" of the tribal Garo outfit, had made a ransom call of Rs 20 lakh to one of the family members for the safe release of the abducted traders.
The ASAK, whose name means "vanguard of Garoland", fighting for a separate Garoland in western part of Meghalaya, were involved in kidnappings and killings in the district.
The militant outfit was also involved in kidnapping and killing of Intelligence Bureau officer Bikash Singh last year.
--IANS
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