According to a defence statement, Assam Rifles troopers in South Arunachal Pradesh intercepted an individual crossing the India-Myanmar border in Changlang District during a border patrol on Saturday
TFM Desk
The proscribed United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) reportedly released one of the two abducted employees of New Delhi-based Quippo Oil and Gas Infrastructure Limited after 104 days on Saturday. However, unconfirmed reports claimed that both the hostages were released in different locations of Arunachal Pradesh. Police said they are verifying the reports.
According to a defence statement, Assam Rifles troopers in South Arunachal Pradesh intercepted an individual crossing the India-Myanmar border in Changlang District during a border patrol on Saturday.
“The individual was identified as Pranab Kumar Gogoi, an employee of Quippo Oil and Gas Infra Ltd, who was earlier kidnapped from Inau in Arunachal Pradesh on December 21 last year by ULFA-I. The individual has been handed over to Arunachal Pradesh Police at Longvi,” the statement said.
Another Arunachal Pradesh police official said that after a brief interrogation and Covid-19 testing Gogoi would be handed over to either the Assam police or to his family.
Gogoi, drilling superintendent and Ram Kumar, a radio operator of Delhi-based Quippo Oil and Gas Infrastructure Ltd, were abducted from the company’s Kumchaikha hydrocarbon drilling site in Arunachal Pradesh.
While Pranab Gogoi hails from Sivasagar district of Assam, Ram Kumar is from Bihar.
Earlier Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Finance and Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma other Ministers and Congress leaders including the party’s deputy leader in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi have seperaely appealed to ULFA-I leaders to release the two hostages of a Delhi-based private oil company.
The anti-talk militant outfit — ULFA-I — had earlier set February 17 to “take action” if the concerned authorities did not take appropriate steps to secure the release of the oil company officials.