Two Abducted ONGC Employees Rescued in Nagaland, Search Continues for the Other

GUWAHATI: In a major development from the Indian Army and Assam Rifles, two of the three Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) employees who were abducted by the United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I) have been rescued in the Mon district of Nagaland on Friday night.

According to reports, the joint operation began on April 23 night when two abducted employees identified as Alakesh Saikia and Mohinimohan Gogoi were rescued by the team.

Also, one AK 47 rifle was recovered from the site.

A press release stated that - "In the early hours of 21st April, 2021 at about 1 AM, suspected ULFA (I) militants kidnapped 3 persons from a work over rig site (ROM-100 III) of ONGC located within Lakwa T.E. Cholapather grant under Simaluguri PS of Sivsagar district.

Five militants came to the site and kidnapped the ONGC staff in an Ambulance kept in the site. They were driven to No. 5 Bakupukhuri near Charaideo T.E. under Mathurapur PS from where the kidnapped persons along with 2 kidnappers moved towards the hillside of Nagaland (Mon district of Nagaland).

The names of the kidnapped persons are :-

1. Mohini Mohan Gogoi (35), Junior Technician (Production), S/o- Hemanta Gogoi, Vill No.1 Padumoni Haruali Gaon, PS- Khowang , Dist- Dibrugarh,

2. Ritul Saikia (33), Junior Technician (Production), S/o- Shri Puna Saikia, viil-Borhula Nangal Gaon, PS- Borhula, Dist- Jorhat.

3. Alakesh Saikia (28), Junior Engineering Assistant (Production), S/o- Lt. Robin Saikia, VIII- Hobaibondha, PS & Dist- Jorhat.

The police were informed about the incident at 5.30 AM. Immediately after receiving the information, Sivsagar Police led by SP, Sivasagar rushed to the PO and carried out a massive manhunt to nab the culprits and rescue the kidnapped persons.

It is suspected that the kidnapped persons have been taken towards Nagaland. The matter was also immediately informed to the senior officers of Nagaland Police and all Army / Paramilitary bases located in the area. Shri G.P. Singh, IPS, Spl. DGP (L&O), Assam, rushed to Sivasagar on the 21st morning and camping there till now for supervising the follow up of rescue operations.

Assam Police has received specific information that the kidnapping is done by the ULFA (I) under command of SS Maj Ganesh Lahon @ Purna Lahon and his accomplices namely, Aidyaman Asom @ Moniram Borgohain and Pradip Gogoi @ Akon. Assam Police has been making utmost effort to recover the kidnapped persons without any harm to them.

In the meanwhile, police have arrested 14 (fourteen) numbers of linkmen and sympathizers of ULFA (I) who were helping the banned outfit directly or indirectly. All Superintendents of Police of upper Assam districts have been instructed to review the security arrangements of OIL and ONGC infrastructures under their jurisdiction, especially those located in interior places.

Meanwhile, 4 linkmen and sympathizers of ULFA(I) who were helping the banned outfit directly or indirectly have already been arrested by the Assam Police.

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