ULFA-I releases abducted ONGC employee Saikia after CM Himanta Biswa Sarma's appeal

Jorhat, May 22: Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) employee Retul Saikia was released by the United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I) on Saturday morning. Saikia was released at Longwa in Nagaland’s Mon district near the Indo-Myanmar border at 7 am. 

  

 

Following Saikia’s release, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted: “Heartily welcome release of Ritul Saikia, ONGC employee abducted by ULFA, early today! Grateful to Honble UHM @AmitShah for constant guidance. Hope an era of peace & development is firmly established in state with cooperation of one and all. Pray to Almighty for His Blessings.”

 

 

In April, Saikia, along with two other ONGC employees, Alakesh Saikia (Junior Engineering Assistant) and Mohini Mohan Gogoi (Junior Technician), were abducted by the ULFA-I militants. In the next 72 hours, the Indian Army along with Assam Rifles had rescued two of the three ONGC employees- Saikia and Mohini Mohan Gogoi. However, Junior Technician Ritul Saikia was not found. So, the rescue operation continued.

 

 

Following the abduction, the Assam Police arrested 14 “linkmen” and three more persons. While the ULFA-I initially claimed that the Saikia was not in their custody, last week Paresh Barua, ULFA-I chief, told the media that he was indeed in the outfit’s custody and would be released in four days.

 

 

Earlier on May 20, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma urged the outfit group and its C-in-C Paresh Baruah to release the abducted ONGC employee. "Saikia’s parents, his wife and infant son are very distressed since his abduction. As an Assamese, it is my humble request to Paresh Baruah to release him at the earliest," said CM Himanta Biswa Sarma.

 

Besides, last week, the ULFA-I announced that it would halt all operations for next three months citing the Covid pandemic, a development that followed a grenade blast killing two for which the organisation is suspected.