Congress candidate's son, supporter abducted

Silchar, Jan 1 (UNI) South Assam-based United Liberation Front of Barak Valley(ULFBV) militants abducted three people, including a Congress leader's son from Hailakandi district.

Police today informed that the three people included two supporters of the Congress leader, whose son had also been abducted yesterday.

The Congress leader was a nominee for the village panchayat president post. Police said the people were kidnapped at gun point from Kharolbasti, a remote village near Mizoram border, when they were campaigning for Abdul Khaliq Laskar alias Kuti, a Congress party candidate for Baldabaldi GP president's post.

The victims comprised the candidate's son Hussein Ahmed(24), his supporter Abdul Noor(25) and Abdul Khaliq(26).

Four tribal militants, carrying AK-47 rifles, whisked the trio away when they were campaigning and putting up posters in the remote village in support of their Congress candidate. However, the kidnappers released Abdul Khaliq later at night with a note addressed to the candidate demanding Rs 10 lakh for the release of the duo.

Hailakandi superintendent of police Ananda Mohan Tiwari today said security had been tightened in all the sensitive areas of the district in connection with the rural election and combing operation has been intensified for the safe release of the abducted people.

UNI XC LL DS KN1748