Will release Quippo employees at a safe location ‘very soon’: ULFA (I)

Tinsukia: Banned outfit United Liberation Front of Assam (Independent) has announced their decision to release the employees of oil drilling company Quippo ‘very soon’.

Pranab Kumar Gogoi-a resident of Sivasagar district of Assam-employed as drilling superintendent with Quippo and Ram Kumar-a resident of Khagaria district in Bihar – employed as a radio operator, were kidnapped from Quippo rig at Changlang district in Arunachal Pradesh on December 21 and since then are captive.

In a press statement, ULFA (I) said, “Now that the journalist of the digital news portal has sought an apology and has been forgiven by the outfit, there shall be no barrier in the release of the two employees of Quippo under our captivity.”

“We shall release them in a healthy condition at a safe location within a few days,” the outfit said.

Earlier, a digital portal had reported incorrect news stating that ULFA (I) had released the abductees. The outfit lashed out against the digital portal seeking an apology from the journalist.

“I learnt through the media that ULFA (I) would release my husband soon. I am happy, but will hold my words till he is released,” the wife of PK Gogoi told EastMojo.

She added, three days ago, the company informed her that the negotiation with ULFA (I) had completed successfully.

The kidnapping saga went through several ups and downs, and a time came when ULFA (I) had announced that they would execute the abductees after the talks with the company failed.

ULFA (I) had set a deadline of February 16 to meet their demands which included an extortion amount of rupees 20 crore as per reports.