FCI boss untraced, car found, CM points to ULFA

Guwahati, Apr 19 (UNI) The mystery over the abduction of Food Corporation of India (FCI) Executive Director Phul Chand Ram continued to deepen even as Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi pointed the accusing finger towards the banned ULFA.

While police had refused to divulge the details of progress of the investigation, Ram's car was recovered in Rangiya town of lower Asom today.

Rumours that the ULFA called up Ram's son Praveen at his Ghaziabad residence, demanding a ransom of Rs 21 crore was, however, denied by Praveen.

Ram was abducted after he left office on the night of April 17 at around 1830 hours. His driver, Ravi Basumatary, and his ambassador car were also missing since then.

Speaking to UNI over phone from New Delhi, Praveen said, '' None has rung me up so far demanding any money. The case is being dealt with by the vigilance of the FCI based in New Delhi. I can't say if they have received any such demand. '' Police also had denied that any ransom demand had been received so far.

Meanwhile, Mr Gogoi said it was most likely that the ULFA was behind the abduction.

He confirmed that a militant group was involved. ''Definitely a militant group of Asom is involved, which is most likely to be ULFA, '' Mr Gogoi told a press conference here, saying, ''The government has some leads which we can't disclose.'' He added that the Central Government had also conveyed its concern over the incident.

Yesterday a senior police official claimed while talking to a section of media that Ram had been made captive somewhere in the city. '' We know where he has been kept. We'll rescue him soon, '' the official was quoted as saying.

However, Ram's car was found from Rangiya, about 35 km from here.

A vigilance team of the FCI had also arrived here and was investigating the case.

A Guwahati-based FCI official, Ram, was in charge of the North East, Bihar and Jharkhand.

UNI