From a Correspondent

DIPHU, July 5: The prolonged hostage crisis in Karbi Anglong’s Singhason Hills is over. After a month of negotiation and dialogues with the Karbi Peoples Liberation Tiger (KPLT), an underground outfit, the kidnapped labourers of the P Das & Company, an old and premiere Assamese construction firm, were released on Thursday evening.

Karbi Anglong Superintendent of Police BB Chetri told The Sentinel that out of the 20 kidnapped labourers, 19 were released and one of them died of illness.

The 20 labourers of the P Das & Company engaged in the construction of a hydel project in Karbi Anglong district were kidnapped on June 10 last by the KPLT from Lungit.

In a joint press statement issued by the Karbi Human Rights Watch (KHRW) and New Earth Foundation (NEF), both the bodies have extended their deep gratitude to the KPLT for their sincerity in listening to the humanitarian appeal made by the families and all the organizations of the district.

Meanwhile, the Adivashi students’ body also called off its bandh after the release of the hostages by the KPLT.