A CORRESPONDENT
DEMOW: The ULFA-I (United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent) on Saturday released ONGC's third technical staff Ritul Saikia along the Nagaland-Myanmar border, and he has reached his home at Borhola in Titabor.
State DGP Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta said that due to the personal initiative of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Saikia was released from the captivity of the ULFA-I.
Reacting to the development, Chief Minister Sarma in a tweet said: "Heartily welcome release of Ritul Saikia, ONGC employee abducted by ULFA! Grateful to Hon'ble UHM Amit Shah for constant guidance. Hope an era of peace & development is firmly established in the state with the cooperation of one and all. Pray to Almighty for His Blessings."
Assam police sources said that Saikia reached Longwa in Nagaland's Mon district near the India-Myanmar border early on Saturday morning.
"Saikia was handed over to the Assam police officials by the Assam Rifles. He tested negative for Covid-19. Immediately after his release, Saikia talked to his aged mother over the phone.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, after taking oath as the 15th Chief Minister of Assam on May 10, had urged ULFA-I 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Baruah and other militant groups to shun the path of violence and join the mainstream.