Company executive kidnapped in Assam

GUWAHATI - An executive of a cement company was kidnapped at gunpoint from near Assam’s main city of Guwahati Thursday, a day after two businessman abducted over the weekend were rescued by police.

A police spokesperson said Narendra Nimodia, the director of Star Cement, a local brand in Assam, was kidnapped by at least four unidentified gunmen from Jorabat on the outskirts of Guwahati around 3 p.m.

“The Star Cement executive was having lunch at a roadside eatery in Jorabat from where he was believed to have been abducted by gunmen,” a police official said.

The Star Cement office in Guwahati received a telephone call from Nimodia saying he was kidnapped by four gunmen.

“The phone line was snapped before he could reveal any further details,” the official said.

A massive hunt is on to rescue the abducted executive.

“We are not sure about the motive behind the kidnapping, but presume it could be for ransom. We don’t really know whether some militant groups are involved,” the official said.

Thursday’s abduction comes a day after two businessmen - Bishnu Kedia and Sanjay Agarwal - kidnapped Sunday were rescued by police from Sonapur on the outskirts of Guwahati.

Kedia and Agarwal, running a dairy business in Guwahati, were abducted at gunpoint by a group of four people Sunday midnight from near their factory in Sasal area here.

Police claimed the duo was released as the captors were unable to bear the security pressure on them.