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Abducted
official offered dog meat by Garo militants
Sunday December 05, 2010 06:46:49 PM,
IANS
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Shillong:
A Meghalaya government official, abducted and held hostage by Garo
rebels for nearly two months, Sunday said he had been offered dog
meat during his captivity but subsisted on a vegetarian diet.
"They (the rebels) always went to nearby villages and brought dog
meat, pork, dry rotis (chapattis) and (lentil) dal for our meals
into our makeshift camps inside the jungle," R. Syngkon told IANS
here.
"They cook very well although my food was very basic, consisting
of dal and dry rotis. My nephew shared the militants' diet of dog
meat, pork and rice. Everything was very tasty," said Syngkon, who
is diabetic.
Syngkon, the district transport officer of East Garo Hills
district, and his nephew Wanbormi Syngkon were kidnapped by Garo
National Liberation Army (GNLA) rebels Sep 30 from his residence
in district headquarters, Williamnagar. They were freed on Nov 24.
He said the rebels kept strict meal timings and there was also a
strict restriction on smoking, chewing of tobacco and consumption
of alcohol.
"We were given our first meal every morning at 8 a.m. and dinner
was served at 4 p.m.," Syngkon said.
GNLA, one of the five Garo rebel groups, is demanding a sovereign
Garoland in western Meghalaya.
The group is also believed to have links with rebel groups like
the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah), the
United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and the National Democratic
Front of Bodoland (NDFB).
Syngkon said he had treated well enough by his abductors.
"One day I was unconscious and blood was oozing out of my nose.
They (GNLA) immediately brought a pharmacist inside the jungle and
gave me an injection and drip (intravenous saline,)" he added.
"They (GNLA) didn't want anything to happen to me and I was told
that they will release me seeing my health condition," Syngkon
said.
Asked the reason behind his abduction, especially when GNLA chief
Champion R.Sangma and he knew each while in service, Syngkon said
he had no clue. "Yes, he was my good friend, but I don't know why
he chose to abduct me." The GNLA had said that they abducted him
for his corrupt practices and wanted to "teach him a lesson".
Syngkon said not once did he see the GNLA chairman during his
period of captivity. "I don't know why he didn't turn up to see
me, he must have been shy," he said.
Denying paying a ransom of Rs.50 lakh, out of the Rs 1.80 crore
demanded for his release, he said: "When I was informed about the
demand. I told them you can shoot me because I don't have that
kind of an amount."
"Nothing was paid to them for my release. In fact, they had some
plans, but seeing my ill-health they didn't want anything to
happen to me. In fact the GNLA leader, Sohan D. Shira spoke to me
over the phone on Nov 24 informing a vehicle has been arranged to
take me to Guwahati," he added.
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