Ulfa(I) Releases Video of Oil Firm Workers Kidnapped in Arunachal, Demands Rs 20 Cr

GUWAHATI: In the latest development of the kidnapped oil workers from Arunachal Pradesh, Paresh Baruah-led Ulfa(I) released videos showing the duo appealing to Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Bihar's supreme Nitish Kumar to help them get them back home.

Meanwhile, Ulfa(I) has demanded Rs 20 crore in ransom from the company for the release of the oil workers.

It is to be mentioned that earlier in December 2020, the oil workers were kidnapped from Kumchaikha drilling site near Innao in Changlang district.

Further, Security forces in Arunachal Pradesh are still clueless about the whereabouts of the two employees of Quippo Oil and Gas Infrastructure Limited, who were kidnapped by ULFA (I) militants on December 21 last year.

Massive search operations by the Army, paramilitary and civil police is yet to yield any outcome about the whereabouts of drilling superintendent Pranab Kumar Gogoi (51), a resident of Sivasagar in Assam and radio operator 35-year-old Ram Kumar from Bihar.

Changlang Deputy Commissioner Dr Devnash Yadav stated that the oil company's representative had reportedly initiated talks with the kidnappers while the security forces are still on the ground to continue search operations.

According to officials of the private oil company, the armed men proceeded to Ningru Reserve Forest with the abducted oil company employees on a fateful day.

Changlang, on the Indo-Myanmar border, is one of the three disturbed districts in Arunachal Pradesh where the Armed Forces Special Powers Act is still in force. ULFA (I) and factions of the NSCN have a presence in the area. Earlier, a statement from NSCN(I-M) claimed as baseless reports suggesting their involvement in the abduction.

Sources said that CM Sonowal has called upon Union petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan and his Arunachal Pradesh counterpart Pema Khandu, seeking a concerted effort to free the hostages.

Further, Bihar additional chief secretary (home) Amir Subhani said the state government would do everything possible to save Kumar.

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