ULFA sets 48-hour deadline for release of jailed leaders

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

Guwahati, June 12 (UNI) United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) has demanded the government set free its two jailed leaders within the next 48 hours in return of ensuring the safety of abducted Food Corporation of India (NE) chief P C Ram.

In a telephonic statement to local media, 'publicity secretary' of ULFA's 709 battalion Indrajit Medhi demanded the release of 'captain' Mrinal Hazarika of 28 battalion and 'captain' Pallab Saikia of 27 battalion within the next 48 hours to ensure the ''safety of Mr Ram''.

Medhi, however, was silent on releasing the FCI-NE chief if the ULFA leaders were released.

The FCI-North East chief was abducted along with his driver on April 17 while he was returning home from office. His driver was traced two days after the incident, while Mr Ram's official car was recovered from the lower Asom town of Rangiya.

Serious concerns have been raised over the safety of abducted the FCI official after ULFA demand.

The 'publicity secretary' was quoted to have said that the outfit ''would not be responsible'' if the two leaders were not released within the next 48 hours.

He said ULFA had earlier placed the demand but the government had not responded.

The Asom government had claimed on June 8 that Mr Ram was safe and in good health.

Government spokesperson and state minister Himanta Biswa Sharma had, however, ruled out any operation to rescue Mr Ram immediately, stating that his safe release would be secured.

A special four-member investigating team, headed by a DSP, was formed by Guwahati SSP Surinder Kumar on June 6 to carry out the investigation.

Reports, soon after the abduction, suggested that the banned outfit had demanded a ransom of Rs 21 crore for his release.

However, Ram's son Praveen, who resides in Ghaziabad, had denied receiving any extortion demand.

The 709 battalion of ULFA, which operates in lower Asom, was suspected to be behind the abduction. A massive operation was also launched by the Army and police to trace Mr Ram in different parts of lower Asom and areas along Bhutan border.

Meanwhile, it was a day of homecoming for two other abducted persons of the state.

News of safe release of fire engineer Debashis Kakoty reached his home town Sivsagar early this morning from Nigeria, 24 days after he was kidnapped while Sonari school boy Rajat Agarwalla was also reunited with his family this morning. He was abducted on June 7.

UNI

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