Asom rejects ULFA demand, wait for DNA results

Guwahati, July 7: Asom today rejected ULFA's demand for freeing two of their jailed cadres against the release of abducted FCI Executive Director P C Ram.

Government spokespersons here said the state cannot meet the ULFA demand. ''Let us first ascertain that Ram is actually alive and for that we have to wait for the DNA results,'' he said, adding that Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who is returning from a fortnight-long trip to US and UK would make the position clear.

The family members of the Mr Ram were convinced that he was alive after receiving a call ''purportedly'' from him last evening.

Mr Ram's elder brother Balak Ram said, ''We are convinced since his son, wife and daughter and even I spoke to him for over eight minutes and we asked him some personal questions which only Ram could tell. We are fully convinced that he is alive.'' Ironically, the police found a decomposed body on July 29 last in the interiors of Baska district of lower Asom, which was identified as that of P C Ram's by his son Pravin Ram his house maid and 21 other FCI employees.

The body was taken home to Ghaziabad and cremated by Ram's family members. Even a condolence message came from the Prime Minister and the Chief Minster of Asom.

''But now we are convinced that he is alive and will be freed after the release of the two ULFA leaders,'' Mr Balak Ram told UNI over the phone from New Delhi.

The ULFA, meanwhile, demanded the release of arrested cadre Pallav Hazarika and Mrinal Hazarika against the release of Mr Ram.

This has put the state government in an awkward position. ''Even if Ram is alive, we will not swap arrested ULFA leaders for his release,'' the spokesman retorted.

A formal decision in this regard is expected tonight when Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi arrives here from London. Acting Chief Minister Bhumidhar Burman said, ''It is a very confusing matter. Let us wait for the DNA results. His body had been identified by his own son,'' said Mr Burman.

The DNA samples were collected from Prabin Ram this morning at Ghaziabad by the Assam police as the DNA samples of the decomposed body had already been sent to Hyderabad for a match.

''Yes we have asked for a DNA test. We made a grave mistake in the identification. We are now convinced that he is alive,'' said son Prabin Ram. They met Union Minister Akhilesh Prasad Singh and Assam DGP R K Mathur, who is now in New Delhi last night itself.

UNI