Maharashtra concerned about its official abducted by Bodos

MUMBAI - The Maharashtra government is concerned over the reports of a senior bureaucrat allegedly kidnapped by Bodo militants in Arunachal Pradesh where he had gone on a vacation, an official here said.

The state government is also in touch with Arunachal Pradesh security officials for details of the whereabouts of the missing Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer, Vijay S. Bardekar.

In his early 50s, Bardekar, an officer of the 1984 IFS batch, is currently the joint director (administration) in the social forestry directorate, and is based in Pune.

Reports reaching here Friday said, Bardekar was reportedly kidnapped from Daimara village in West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh, late Thursday night when he was preparing to spend the night there.

Two other locals accompanying him were brutally assaulted by the suspected militants, who abducted Bardekar.

The suspected kidnapping was carried out by around a dozen militants belonging to the National Democratic Front of Bodoland, which also refers to itself Bodo Security Force.

“He (Bardekar) was on leave to pursue his hobby of watching butterflies, which abound in that region,” the official told IANS.

It is suspected that Bardekar may not have been discreet enough about his identity as required for any government officers travelling in troubled areas or border areas, the official said.

Bardekar may not have exercised precautions like avoiding use of cell-phones, identifying himself openly in public and other minor indiscretions which could have alerted the alleged kidnappers.

On a fortnight’s leave, Bardekar was expected to resume his duties in Pune from May 24.