Rebels seek Rs 1 crore for release

The Assam police here on Monday said that Kuldeep Moran, son of Tinsukia zila parishad president Ratneswar Moran, whose video was released by Ulfa(I) rebels in the media on Monday, was abducted by NSCN(K) from Arunachal Pradesh on August 1. Kuldeep had gone to deliver some consignment to NSCN(K) rebels when he was not allowed to return.

Accusing that Kuldeep himself was a suspect in many anti-social activities, security sources said that NSCN(K) handed over Kuldeep’s custody to Ulfa(I) rebels, asking them to extort whatever money they can from his father, who is a BJP leader in Assam.

Informing that Ulfa(I) rebels came to know about the connection of Kuldeep’s father with BJP MLA Bolen Chetia, security sources said that Ulfa(I) rebels demanded '1 crore from the BJP MLA for releasing Kuldeep.

However, Mr Chetia, who could not be contacted, is said to have ignored the extortion demand of Ulfa(I) rebels who tried to contact him. Finding themselves in a tight-spot as the father of Kuldeep also expressed his inability in paying the extortion demand, the rebels on Monday released a video of Kuleep in local television channels to create pressure, security sources said, adding that the security agencies have a suspicion that even Kuldeep had some nexus with his abductors and is helping the Ulfa(I) rebels in extorting the money from the BJP MLA. In the video, Kuldeep is shown to have been appealing to BJP MLA Bolin Chetia and Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal to secure his release by paying the ransom demand of Ulfa(I) rebels.

Security sources said that on investigation, they found that Kuldeep was also in touch with some drug peddler of the area too. The police, however, said that they are trying to rescue Kuldeep to bust the conspiracy.