ULFA demands Rs 21 cr ($5 mil) for release of FCI official
http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=apr2007/at04
GUWAHATI, April 19 The ULFA today claimed it had kidnapped FCI executive
director and head of its North- Eastern region P C Ram and demanded a ransom of
Rs 21 crore, reports PTI. Hardcore ULFA leader Hira Sarania, who is said to
supervise the outfits extortion and fund collection operation, rang up Rams
son Pravin and demanded Rs 21 crore as ransom for the officials release,
official sources said.
Earlier, the police had claimed that no ransom notes or further calls were
received from either Ram or his abductors, but he has been traced.
We have traced the whereabouts of Ram to a place somewhere near Guwahati,
though we cannot disclose the exact location right now. Efforts were on to
secure his release, a senior police official told PTI.
An operation has been launched to rescue the FCI official and his driver Rabi
Basumatary who were kidnapped by suspected militants from the Ulubari area on
Guwahati-Shillong Road on Tuesday night.
Ram, who left his office at about 7.30 pm in his official vehicle did not reach
home on Tuesday night, but rang up his son in Ghaziabad last morning and said
that he had been kidnapped.
Before more details could be asked, the line was disconnected and his son
immediately informed the police here.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today said it was most likely that the ULFA had
abducted the FCI official and that all efforts were on to rescue him.
Sources confirmed that a massive extortion drive had been launched by various
extremist groups among businessmen and top companies, including the FCI.
On April 14, an FCI employee was shot and seriously injured by a suspected ULFA
militant in the heart of Nalbari town in lower Assam.
Without ruling out the extortion motive in Rams abduction, the sources said he
had no security at the time of the incident.
The State Government has sought a report from the Director General of Police on
the kidnapping of Ram from the heart of the city.
Our Rangiya Correspondent adds: The white ambassador vehicle (AS-01-V-1353) of
the kidnapped PC Ram was recovered from near the Jawaharlal Nehru Sishu
Vidyalaya just a few metres away from Rangiya Police Station today morning by
police.
According to sources, the vehicle was seen being kept abandoned with windows
closed since April 17.
Umesh Sharma
Washington D.C.
1-202-215-4328 [Cell]
Ed.M. - International Education Policy
Harvard Graduate School of Education,
Harvard University,
Class of 2005
http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/
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