DIMAPUR, JUNE 18 (MExN): Two Nagas, alongwith five others, working at a hydro project site in Karbi-Anglong were taken hostage by armed militants. According to information received from reliable sources, the kidnapping occurred on June 10.
The sources disclosed that the hostages were abducted for ransom by suspected militants of the Karbi People’s Liberation Tigers (KPLT) - a breakaway faction of the Karbi Longri N.C. Hills Liberation Front. The two Nagas, identified as Kelesel Kikhi and Kroyiho Kikhi of Viswema village were part of a group of workers working for a Guwahati based company contracted for executing work at the Rs. 52-crore Longnit Mini Hydro Electric Project, about 26 kilometres away from Diphu district headquarters.
According to unconfirmed reports, at first, the militants were said to have taken captive around 13-18 workers, later releasing some of the hostages. Seven hostages are still in the custody of the abductors, including the two Nagas. Initially, the captors had demanded a 10 percent cut of the project cost from the contractor for the release of the hostages. The company reportedly did not comply with the demand and the kidnapping was carried out as a reprisal, the sources said. Later, following negotiations the ransom was scaled down to 5 percent.
On June 18, more than a week after the kidnapping saga began Diphu police were expecting a breakthrough. It did not turn out as expected. Despite, Diphu police are hopeful of safe release of the hostages, who are said to be in sound health, in the next few days.
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