India: BJP Leader’s Son Kidnapped by Rebels, Demands 1 crore in Ransom

Members of the banned United Liberation Front of Assam Independent also sent the video to the media through WhatsApp.

( August 22, 2016, Guwahati, Sri Lanka Guardian) Members of the banned United Liberation Front of Assam Independent (ULFA-I) have kidnapped the son of an Assam BJP leader and released a video on Monday demanding Rs 1 crore as ransom.

Kuldeep Moran, who is the son of Tinsukia district panchayat’s vice president Ratnaswer Moran, was abducted on August 1 but Moran received a video message from group demanding ransom on Monday (August 22).

ULFA(I) rebels used WhatsApp to send the video to both Moran and the media. Security sources said that releasing the video of a person in their captivity to the media was aimed at creating panic among people.

In the video, Moran’s son is surrounded by five armed masked men and the footage seems to have been shot in a forest area.

“I have been abducted by Ulfa-I and they are taking me to different places blindfolded. I have become very weak and my health has also deteriorated. I am afraid I might die in cross-firing,” Kuldeep reportedly says in the video.

In the video, he pleads Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to help secure his release.

Security sources said that ULFA(I) rebels have been asked to make their presence felt by resorting to various terror activities. Security sources said that sending video of an abducted person to local media houses was a pre-planned and conscious decision of the outfit.

( Agencies)