Source: Hueiyen News Service / Agencies
Nagpur, September 21 2009:
Mineral Exploration Corporation Ltd (MECL) is faced with a hostage crisis.
Two of its employees working in Nagaon district of Assam have been kidnapped by insurgents.
Officials in the corporation say that a ransom of Rs 50 lakh has been demanded for their release.
Residents of West Bengal, the duo has been identified as Gopal Mandal and Motilal Dey, both aged around 50 years.
They are drilling technicians, a non-executive cadre.
This is the first ever incident of its kind in MECL, a senior official said.
They were reportedly taken captive from an exploration site near Chapanalla in Nagaon which is three hours by road from Guwahati.
Nagaon SP Nitul Gogoi said that so far no militant group had taken responsibility for the act.
The hand of Kabri Longri National Liberation Front (KLNLF) is suspected as the area is dominated by this outfit.
Five persons were abducted out of which three daily wagers, who were local residents, were released.The incident took place three days ago but the management at Nagpur has remained tight-lipped over it.