BY OUR BUREAU
DIGBOI/MARGHERITA, Aug 22: Taking a leaf out of ISIS’ book, the ULFA (I) for the first time in its history, released a video of abducted Kuldeep Moran, son of Tinsukia Zilla Parishad vice president Ratneshwar Moran, to demand a ransom of Rs 1 crore. Kuldeep was abducted from near the Assam-Aruchal Pradesh border on August 1.
The anti-talk faction of ULFA militants on Monday released a video footage of the abducted youth and later demanded a ransom of Rs 1 crore from Sadiya BJP MLA Bolin Chetia. Sources said releasing the video to media was aimed at creating pressure on the persons concerned and panic among the people.
The video showed Kuldeep appealing to his family, BJP legislator from Sadiya constituency Bolin Chetia and Chief Minister Sarbanda Sonowal to secure his release by paying the outlawed outfit.
The video shows a terrified Kuldip surrounded by five armed and black masked youths. He pleads for his life and talks about his failing health, expressing fears of getting killed in any crossfire between militants and security forces.
Kuldip says: “The ULFA has abducted me. They have been shifting me from one place to another. I appeal to my parents, Bolin-da and Sarbanda Sonowal to secure my release. My health is deteriorating and I’ll die in crossfire someday if I have to be with them.”
The ULFA(I) faction in a statement last week had admitted that the outfit’s eastern command unit had abducted Kuldip, son of Ratneswar Moran, vice president of Tinsukia Zila Parishad and a close aide of Sadiya legislator Bolin Chetia. The outfit had demanded Rs 1 crore for the release of Moran and directed that the amount be collected from Chetia.
Kuldip’s father, however, has expressed his ibility to pay the ransom. “They (UlLFA-I) have demanded Rs 1 crore for the release of my son Kuldip. Forget about Rs 1 crore, I cannot even pay Rs 1 lakh. I can only request the kidppers to release my son without any condition,” said Ratneswar Moran.
Chetia too, has appealed to the ULFA faction to release the youth unconditiolly and said that neither the family nor he can pay the huge ransom. He said that he had received a call from an ULFA-I leader who identified himself to be one Joy Asom about two week back and demanded the money for releasing Kuldip.