Union Home Minister Amit Shah was requested by Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi for the safe release of the two abducted oil staff from the possession of ULFA(I). The banned militant outfit announced that it has “deferred” decision to take any step on the abducted employees. They will carry on talks with the authorities for a positive result.
Rebels of United Liberation Front of Asom – Independent abducted two employees of Quippo Oil and Gas Infrastructure Ltd on 21 December, 2020 from Kumchaikha hydrocarbon drilling site in Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh.
The outfit demanded a release amount of Rs 20 crore for the two employees by February 16 which was further extended, mentioned Gogoi in the letter.
The MP, however, did not mention the extended date. Recently, the ULFA (I) threatened to take an “ultimate step” against the two persons, the MP said in his letter.
Talks with the Quippo authorities held from February 16 to 19 have “failed to reach any favourable conclusion and an ultimate step on the two will be taken next week”, said ULFA(I) in an email to PTI.
The General Secretary of Gauhati Press Club (GPC) Sanjoy Ray was informed by ULFA (I) Chief Paresh Barua on Sunday over phone that talks on the release of the two employees were going on and said “we hope that there will be a positive outcome soon”.
Barua said, there has to be a “definite time-frame to resolve the issue and negotiations for their release cannot go on endlessly.”
GPC president Manoj Kumar Nath was called by ULFA (I) chief and asked to facilitate him a platform to clarify certain facts allegedly “misinterpreted in a certain section of the media” on the outfit’s decision over the fate of the two abducted persons.
Mediapersons assembled at the GPC where Barua was to address the media over telephone but the particular number could not be contacted on which he was supposed to brief the journalists.
An another journalist present at the GPC was called by Barua who connected him to the club’s General Secretary Sanjoy Ray and was briefed by the ULFA (I) leader.
The ULFA (I) chief informed that he welcomes and respects the role of the civil society and their suggestions to resolve the issue, as told to Ray.
A part of the media had misinterpreted the outfit’s previous announcement about “the step” to decide the fate of the two abducted persons, said Barua.
Gaurav Gogoi, in his letter to the Union Home Minister, said, “Given the sensitive nature of the matter and the potential threat to the lives of the two persons, I urge you to take the matter into immediate consideration for appropriate action.
“The government should ensure safe return of the two employees. Eagerly looking forward to your response.”
ULFA (I)’s Commander-in-Chief Paresh Barua was requested by Senior minister of Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma “with folded hands” to release the two men unharmed.
The two abducted men are Drilling Superintendent Pranab Kumar Gogoi and Radio Operator Ram Kumar. Pranab Gogoi is from Assam’s Sivasagar district, Ram Kumar belongs from Bihar.