The fate of seven people, including a custom inspector abducted by militants on February 28 is still not know, even as the Meghalaya police suspect the abductors might have taken them across the border.

Meghalaya Director General of Police L Sailo said, "There is no new development in our efforts to find them. There is a possibility of the militants along with the hostages crossing the border, but we are not hundred per cent sure."

Meghalaya Home Minister R G Lyngdoh on March 20 made a suo moto statement in the assembly saying the state government took up the matter with the Centre asking for strengthening the Border Security Force patrolling along the Bangladesh border.

Suspected National Democratic Front of Bodoland and People Liberation Front [Meghalaya] militants had abducted Customs Inspector Deepak Mahanta and six others from a camp of local coal merchant at Gasuapara village near Indo-Bangladesh border on February 28.

The state police along with the paramilitary forces have been continuing their search operations since March 2.

The militants have demanded a ransom of Rs five crore for the release of the hostages by March 20 midnight.

But the customs department, which suspended legal trade through Assam-Meghalaya, refused to budge from their stand saying no payments would be made.