Bru militants free abducted villagers

Silchar, Dec 21 (UNI) Suspected United Liberation Front of Barak Valley (ULFBV) militants released two abducted villagers at Hailakandi district in south Assam.

Police said here today that the kidnappers, belonging to the ULFBV, a Bru (Reang) outfit, freed a bamboo trader and the son of an affluent businessman in the district at Karnabasti, a remote village near the Assam-Mizoram border, about 150 km from here yesterday.

Police later escorted the villagers to Katlicherra police station.

It was not yet confirmed whether any ransom was paid for their release, police added.

The bamboo trader and the minor were abducted by suspected ULFBV militants at gunpoint on November 25 and December eight respectively.

The outfit was also responsible for kidnapping a beat officer at the Gharmora forest range from Ramnathpur on November 20, who was freed after about three weeks following negotiations between the militants and forest officials.

The ULFBV is active in south Assam since the past decade and they were involved in extortions, abductions and murders.

UNI