Itanagar, Nov 26: Security forces remain clueless even after five days of a contractor and a Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) leader being held captive by suspected NSCN(K) militants in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tirap district.

Despite intensive search operations, there has been no breakthrough in tracing Rajasthan-based contractor Vijay Shankar Agarwal, who is engaged in road construction projects, and PRI leader Bamnye Lammaty. The two were reportedly abducted after attempting to negotiate with the militant group, which had allegedly demanded Rs 2 crore from Agarwal.

“Contractors and businessmen are frequently targeted by militant groups in eastern Arunachal Pradesh. Abduction for extortion has become routine, with companies forced to pay hefty sums,” a source familiar with the situation said.

The incident underscores the persistent extortion threat across the Tirap, Changlang, and Longding (TCL) region, where contractors, traders, workers, and local leaders regularly face kidnapping attempts by various insurgent outfits. Ransom payments are believed to secure many releases, though authorities rarely acknowledge such cases publicly.

“Today marks the fifth day since Agarwal and Lammaty were taken captive. We have not received any communication from the abductors so far,” said a manager of the construction firm, requesting anonymity.

Local authorities have issued no official statement on the status of rescue efforts or possible negotiations, adding to the mounting anxiety among the families and associates of the two men.

Sources said extortion has effectively become an industry for militant groups in the region.

“Most kidnappings take place during this season. Militants abduct contractors and businessmen to extort money from companies or even the government. In many ways, they are running a parallel government in the area. Outfits like NSCN(K-YA) remain highly active, carrying out such activities repeatedly, while security forces often remain mere spectators,” another source said.

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