Ritul Saikia's family urge Assam CM to secure his release from ULFA (I)
"We appeal newly elected Chief Minister of Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma to take necessary steps for the release of Ritul Saikia. We don't know where he is. If he is under ULFA (I) captive then government should take steps to release him," said a family member.
DIBRUGARH:
The family members of Ritul Saikia, on Wednesday, urged Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to take steps to secure the release of the ONGC employee who remains traceless for 22 days.
"We appeal newly elected Chief Minister of Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma to take necessary steps for the release of Ritul Saikia. We don't know where is he. If he is under ULFA (I) captivity then the government should take steps to release him," said a family member.
On April 21, 2021, three ONGC employees were abducted by ULFA (I) cadres from the Romanian workover rig of ONGC, Lakwa under the Sivasagar district of upper Assam.
Security forces have rescued two of the ONGC employee from the Mon district of Nagaland but could not trace the whereabouts of Ritul Saikia.
Two of the three ONGC employees who were adducted with Saikia, namely Mohini Mohan Gogoi and Alakesh Saikia have been rescued.
On Wednesday, Titabor MLA Bhaskar Jyoti Baruah and Mariani MLA Rupjyoti Kurmi visited Saikia's residence at Titabor to meet his family members.
"We will soon talk to the Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma regarding the release of Ritul Saikia from ULFA (I) captivity," said both the MLAs.
They have also urged ULFA (I) Commander-in-Chief Paresh Baruah to release Saikia if he is under their custody.
The third kidnapped ONGC employee Ritul Saikia is in the custody of ULFA (I) revealed a surrendered cadre of outfit.
The surrendered ULFA (I) cadre whose name has not been disclosed by the security forces made this claim after laying arms.
Meanwhile, security forces have launched a massive counter-insurgency operation along the Assam-Nagaland border.
However, ULFA(I) has not issued any statement regarding Saikia's abduction or if he is in their custody.
On the other hand, Assam's newly appointed Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has appealed to the ULFA (I) to shun violence and join the peace process.
Notably, the ULFA (I) have claimed that they had left all the three abducted ONGC employees at a village in Nagaland's Mon district.
(Edited by Shankar Kumar Turha)
ALSO READ: Assam: ONGC appeals ULFA (I) to release Ritul Saikia in good health
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