BJP leader's son abducted by Ulfa-I

 In the first such incident, the Paresh Barua-led Ulfa-I on Monday released a video where an abducted youth is seen surrounded by five kidnappers.

The captive, Kuldeep Moran, is the son of Tinsukia district panchayat vice-president Ratneshwar Moran, a very close aide of Sadiya MLA Bolin Chetia. Tinsukia district in Upper Assam is considered to be the stronghold of the United Liberation Front of Assam-Independent (Ulfa-I).

 “I have been abducted by Ulfa-I and they are taking me to different places blindfolded. My health is deteriorating. I am afraid I might die in cross-firing. I request my parents, Bolin Chetia and Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to get me released,” Kuldeep is seen saying in the video.

According to police sources, Kuldeep was abducted on August 1 from the Assam–Arunachal Pradesh border. Soon, the family received a call from the abductors asking for Rs 1 crore.

Ulfa-I, through a press statement, has taken responsibility for the abduction. It claimed that Kuldeep was trying to extort money in Upper Assam using the outfit’s name though he is not one of their cadre.

“The area is under the jurisdiction of Arunachal Pradesh. The Assam and Arunachal Pradesh Police personnel have undertaken a joint search and rescue operation. We have inputs that Kuldeep is safe. We are also looking at which module of Ulfa is involved,” Assam DGP Mukesh Sahay told DH.

The banned group had carried out an attack on Hindi-speaking people ahead of the Independence Day celebrations, killing two and injuring seven.