ULFA abducts BJP leader’s son, demands Rs 1 crore as ransom

Kuldeep Moran, the son of Tinsukia Zila Parishad Vice President Ratnaswer Moran, was kidnapped on August 1, according to India Today.

In the meantime, various students organisations of Tinsukia have urged the ULFA ( I ) chief Paresh Baruah to release Kuldip Moran unconditionally.

In a first such instance, the banned United Liberation Front of Assam -Independent (Ulfa-I) leaked a video on Monday where an abducted youth is seen appealing for his release. “I may die some day in cross firing”, said the abducted boy in the video. He said that he had received a call from an Ulfa leader who identified himself to be one Joy Asom about two week back and demanded the money for releasing Kuldip.

Ratneswar Moran and the family, however, have appealed to release the boy without any condition as the family is not in a financial position to pay any ransom.

The abduction came as a worst reminder of 1990s when the Ulfa leaders had abducted rights activist Sanjay Ghose from Majuli Island in Assam and subsequently killed him.

Ulfa’s anti-talk faction was targeting tea gardens and some industrial houses to mobilise fund to give a fresh lease of life to its terror network in the state, and some tea garden managements have informed security agencies and sought their help in resisting extortion demands, sources said. “We are in touch with intelligence agencies, Arunachal Pradesh police and other agencies to ensure release of the youth”, said Sahay.

Ratneswar Moran is a close associate of Sadiya MLA Balin Chetia. “The government has ordered a full probe”.

Both Moran and Chetia were previously members of the Congress and switched their loyalties before the state Assembly polls this year.