Jaigaon, April 9: Three boys went missing at Khalpara in New Hasimara on Saturday, following which their guardians filed a complaint with police. The police suspect that a trafficking racket was behind the disappearance of Hasanur Haq (5), Sonuullah Ansari (12) and Bisadu Haq (12).

Sajiul Haq, Hasanur’s father, said Raja Miyan of Khalpara area had last week rented out one of his rooms to a middle-aged man, who introduced himself as a mason, for Rs 200 a month. “He became very close to the children in the area by offering them candies and cookies. Although he was staying alone, strangers would sometimes come to visit him,” said Sajiul.

Bachchu Sarkar, another resident of Khalpara, said he had seen Hasanur walking with a stranger towards the railway station on Sunday.

Zarina Bewa, a resident of the area said, Bisadu’s parents worked as day labourers in Kashmir and they had appointed her guardian of their son. “What will I tell them when they return from Kashmir. I do not have enough money to search for the boy,” said Zarina.

All police stations have been alerted and given details of the children and the mason, the suspected abductor.