A contractor and a PRI leader remain in captivity for the fifth consecutive day after allegedly being held by NSCN (K) militants in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tirap district.
This is not the first time such an incident has occurred in the Tirap, Changlang, and Longding districts of Arunachal Pradesh. Extortion has now become a business for militants in the TCL region, leaving the local population increasingly frustrated with these activities.
Vijay Shankar Agarwal, a Rajasthan-based contractor engaged in road construction projects, and PRI leader Bamnye Lammaty were taken captive after attempting to negotiate with the militant outfit, which had demanded ₹2 crore from Agarwal.
The incident highlights the persistent extortion problem plaguing Tirap, Changlang, and Longding districts, where contractors, businessmen, workers, and local leaders routinely face kidnapping threats from various militant groups. Victims are typically released after ransom payments, though officials rarely confirm such transactions.
“Today marks the fifth day since Vijay Shankar Agarwal and PRI leader Bamnye Lammaty have been held in captivity by the militants. We have not received any communication from the captors during these five days,” said a construction firm manager on condition of anonymity.
Local authorities have yet to issue an official statement on rescue efforts or ongoing negotiations with the militants.
The prolonged silence from the captors has added to the anxiety of the families and associates of the two men.
“Most of the kidnappings take place during this season. Militants abduct businessmen and contractors to extort money from companies or the government. In short, they are running a parallel government in the region. Militant outfits like NSCN (K-YA) are mostly active here and frequently carry out such activities. On the other hand, the police and security personnel remain mute spectators,” said a source.
Also Read: Why tea plantation owners want Assam to rethink land patta for workers