\nSources said the kidnappers had telephonically informed Khatkhati Police to collect the dead body at around 8.30 a.m Sunday.
\nDimapur Police later retrieved the body from Khatkhati Police station and kept in the morgue of the Dimapur Civil Hospital at around 12.30 p.m. Post \u2013mortem was conducted only after 3 p.m. After post-mortem the body was taken to the family residence at Lhomithi Colony in the late evening.
\nIt was also disclosed that there were visible signs of inhuman torture marks on the body as indicated by severe burn and other injuries.
\nDimapur police said the throat of the deceased was completely slit , apparently with a dao. A plastic rope was found tied on the right hand of the victim. Pointing to the manner in which the throat was slit, Dimapur Police speculated that the killing could have been committed by non-local criminals.
\nAs reported earlier, the victim, Prasanjit Dhar was abducted by five unidentified miscreants from the family home in Lhomithi Colony at around 7.30 a.m. on October 16 and whisked away in an auto rickshaw.
\nThe kidnappers had demanded Rupees two crore from the family of the victim. Sources said the family had reportedly pleaded with the kidnappers for consideration as that they were dependents of the victim who was running a small shop at Circular Road, near Holy Cross area.
\nIt was also disclosed that the kidnappers reduced the ransom demand from Rs two crore to Rs 50 lakh on Saturday. What was most shocking, was a revelation that the abductors were still pressing the family for the ransom amount after murdering the victim.
\n The abduction and gruesome murder of the victim further highlighted the ever present threat on the lives of people in Dimapur, particularly the business and trading community.
\nDuring the four-day kidnap ordeal, what had also been exposed was the ability of the kidnappers to move the victim without hindrance.
\nIt was also learnt that certain mobile services had the option not to display the caller\u2019s identity as one which was also used by the kidnappers while demanding ransom for late Prasanjit.
\nThere have been several abductions in the recent past in Dimapur and in most cases, these had to be settled after payment of huge ransom. Police expressed helplessness when families preferred not to inform authorities but to deal through some \u2018well wishers\u2019 or middlemen having contacts with those involved.
\nHowever, a businessman on Sunday was critical of the ability of the local police in solving many cases. He went on to add \u201cprobably they are more suited for combat and less for investigative duties.\u201d
\nPolice in Dimapur have been conducting flush out operations against armed cadres and also conducting mobile vehicle check posts.
\nPast cases indicate that perhaps the aspects of crime prevention and detection need to undergo a thorough overhaul if incidents of rising extortion, abduction and intimidation are to be confronted without any quarter given in response to rising criminal activities in Dimapur. <\/p>\n