A trader based in the city, who was out for a walk on Saturday morning, was reportedly held at gunpoint by a gang of criminals and abducted.

The incident has sent ripples of fear across Siliguri's trading fraternity. Police have initiated a probe and are trying to trace him.

Sources said that Prabhakar Singh, a wholesale vegetable merchant of Siliguri Regulated Market — the largest wholesale market of fish, fruits, and vegetables in north Bengal — was picked up by criminals from near his home in Champasari, a locality in the north part of Siliguri under ward 46.

“Around 6am, while he was walking towards the regulated market, some criminals abducted him at gunpoint,” said one of his family members.

As the news spread, Dilip Barman, the local councillor, rushed to the location, along with a team from Pradhannagar police station.

Barman also spoke with Singh’s family members, who are in shock. Singh, who is around 40 years old, lives with his parents, wife and two minor children.

“It is a completely unexpected incident. The family doesn’t have any inkling as to why he was kidnapped. They told me that he had no business rivalry or family-related issues,” the councillor said.

The police, sources said, have started scanning the footage of CCTVs installed in the area.

“Our officers are gathering information to find out the motive behind the abduction. We are exploring all possible angles,” said a senior officer of Siliguri Metropolitan Police.

The police have also spoken with a woman who saw the incident. “She said some people held the trader at gunpoint, forced him inside a car and fled,” said a source.

BJP MLA Shankar Ghosh met the trader’s family.

“His parents and wife are inconsolable. The police should find him,” said the MLA.

Siliguri mayor Gautam Deb said: "The police are probing the case. I will speak to the commissioner of police for the trader's rescue."