ULFA (I) suspends release of Quippo employees over portal’s ‘misadventure’

GUWAHATI: At a time when entire Assam was awaiting the safe release of two abducted oil company employees, the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) (Independent) today announced indefinite suspension of release of the two till a news portal here apologises for broadcasting a “fake” news regarding their release.

In a statement issued by the ULFA (I) this evening, the outlawed outfit expressed dismay over a news item broadcasted by a digital news portal named Time8.in this afternoon that the two have been released and accused the portal of running after TRP.

The ULFA (I) has stated that the two news anchors Dikshit Sarma and Pranab Kumar Gogoi will have to tender apology to the outfit to secure release of the two employees of Quippo Oil and Gas Infrastructure Ltd who have been in ULFA (I) and NSCN captivity over the past two and half months.

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Condemning the act of the portal, the rebel outfit has said that the news item was equivalent to ridiculing the outfit as well as its commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah’s goodwill gesture.

“The misadventure of the two anchors has deeply anguished the ULFA (I) leaders, officials and members and while condemning the act, we are not going to take it lightly. So, till Dikshit Sarma and Pranab Kumar Gogoi  apologise to ULFA (I) for their mistake, it is decided that the release of the two employees will remain suspended for indefinite period. Dikshit Sarma and Pranab Kumar Gogoi will be entirely responsible for it,” a statement signed by K Rumel Axom said.

The two oil company employees – Pranab Kumar Gogoi and Ram Kumar -- were abducted by gunmen from an oilfield in Arunachal Pradesh on December 21 and are since been in ULFA (I)’s captivity.

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Interlocutor between Quippo, government and the ULFA (I) Kaushik Phukan had earlier in the day told newspersons in Tinsukia that the ULFA (I) has agreed to release the two at their convenience soon after the oil company and other such companies have agreed to give employment to people of Assam. Phukan said he was requested by the Arunachal Pradesh government as well as Assam government to mediate for the release of the two and he was working on it for over one and half months.