Three kidnapped WWF volunteers released, NDFB role found

Kokrajhar (Assam), Feb 8 (PTI) Three women WWFvolunteers, kidnapped along with their three male colleagues,were today released at Bangtol in Chirang district on theAssam-Bhutan border after two days in captivity while policesaid the NDFB was behind the abduction.

Kokrajhar SP P K Dutta said negotiations are on withthe kidnappers to secure the release of three othervolunteers.

Dutta said that the anti-talk faction of NDFB wasresponsible for the kidnapping of the volunteers who wereengaged in census of tigers and elephants inside the ManasTiger reserve, a world heritage site.

Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) deputy chief KhampaBorgyary, in-charge of forest department, said all efforts areon to secure the release of the remaining three volunteers.

Srabana Goswami from Guwahati, Pallavi Chakravartyfrom Shillong and Tarali Goswami from Nalbari, were beingtaken to Bongaigaon where their relatives were waiting,Bongaigaon SP Nitul Gogoi said.

The three still in captivity are Syed Naushad Zaman ofGolaghat, Gautam Kishore Sarma of Guwahati and Pranjal Saikiaof Nagaon.

The six volunteers were kidnapped by unidentifiedpersons on Sunday from the Ultapani area in this district. PTISB MD