Tinsukia (Assam): A group of three armed men abducted an employee of a petrol pump Dinesh Sharma in Arunachal Pradesh's Namsai district on Wednesday night. Sharma, who worked as a cashier at the petrol pump, is stated to be a native of Bihar. The armed kidnappers carrying AK-47 rifles shot at another employee of the petrol pump.
The bullet-riddled staffer of the petrol pump has been identified as Mithai Marandi (28). Marandi was stated to be the driver of the petrol pump owner and BJP's Zila Parishad Member Jenia Namchoom. The critically injured Marandi was immediately shifted to a hospital and his condition is said to be critical.
The kidnapping incident took place at Chowkham in Arunachal Pradesh's Namsai district. The kidnappers struck the petrol pump on Wednesday night at around 7.50 pm. The eyewitnesses said that the armed abductors came on foot to the petrol pump. And they were suspected to be members of the militant outfit. The armed abductors were wearing bulletproof jackets and holding AK47 rifles. Police launched a massive man-hunt to track down the criminals. Police have been carrying out raids at the possible hideouts of militants.
Soon after the abduction, the Arunachal police, along with security forces, have been conducting raids to trace the abductors' whereabouts. But, they have not achieved any breakthrough till now. Meanwhile, the critically wounded driver of the petrol pump owner, Mithati Marandi, was taken to the Dibrugarh hospital in eastern Assam for further treatment. So far, no militant groups have come forward to claim responsibility for the kidnapping.
