Police still clueless on whereabouts of kidnapped oil employees in Innao

OUR CORRESPONDENT

ITANAGAR: Security forces in Arunachal Pradesh are still clueless about the whereabouts of the two employees of Quippo Oil and Gas Infrastructure Limited, who were kidnapped by ULFA (I) militants on December 21 last year.

Massive search operations by the Army, paramilitary and civil police is yet to yield any outcome about the whereabouts of drilling superintendent Pranab Kumar Gogoi (51), a resident of Sivasagar in Assam and radio operator 35-year-old Ram Kumar from Bihar.

Both the employees were kidnapped from Kumchaikha drilling site near Innao in Changlang district.

Though the United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) had claimed responsibility for the kidnapping and placed demand for ransom, but nothing has been materialized as yet, informed Changlang Deputy Commissioner Dr Devnash Yadav.

The DC further stated that the oil company's representative had reportedly initiated talks with the kidnappers while the security forces are still on the ground to continue search operations.

''No call has been received from the kidnappers during the last few days and a clear picture will be known once calls are received again,'' added Dr Yadav.

According to officials of the private oil company, the armed men proceeded to Ningru Reserve Forest with the abducted oil company employees on the fateful day.

Changlang, on the Indo-Myanmar border, is one of the three disturbed districts in Arunachal Pradesh where the Armed Forces Special Powers Act is still in force. ULFA (I) and factions of the NSCN have presence in the area. Earlier, a statement from NSCN(I-M) claimed as baseless reports suggesting their involvement in the abduction.

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