The Paresh Baruah faction of the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA-I) has demanded Rs 2 crore for kidnapped youth Arnab Phukan’s safe release – a ransom amount unprecedented in the organisation’s 38-year history.
24-year-old Arnab, son of Jagun based businessman Dilip Phukan, was kidnapped by ULFA (I) militants on December 15 from Old Khamdu village under Jairampur Police station in Arunachal Pradesh’s Changlang district.
Sources said Arnab’s father received a call from someone who introduced himself Nayan Jyoti Medhi of ULFA (I). The caller reportedly demanded the amount from Arnab’s father for his safe release.
Meanwhile, based on an FIR lodged at Jairampur Police Station, an intense search operation has been launched along Assam-Arunachal and Arunachal Pradesh -Myanmar border has been launched by Assam Police, 13 Assam Rifles Jairampur and Arunachal Police to rescue the kidnapped businessman .
Following the recovery of the deserted vehicle of the victim at Chamru village in Jairampur in Arunachal which was used during the abduction, the involvements of militants’ organization was confirmed.
Meanwhile, the family members of Arnab today misbehaved with a group of local journalists when they had gone to his residence to take stocks of Arnab’s ailing father’s health.
Last year on August 1, Kuldeep Moran, son of Tinsukia district panchayat vice-president Ratneshwar Moran, was abducted by suspected ULFA (I) militants from Arunachal Pradesh. The ULFA (I) rebels released a video where an abducted youth was seen appealing for his release.