Lamka, September 16, 2009: Suspected armed men abducted Md Asraf Ali, the Block Development Officer of Saikot TD Block, for ransom yesterday while he was returning home at Muolvaiphei village, about 1 km from his office.

The BDO was travelling in a commercial Tata Magic with a Village Level Worker (VLW) when they were intercepted by two men on a black Bajaj Pulsar motorbike at round 3.15 pm, said an official.

He was then forced to ride with the men with a couple of scooter closely following, added the source.

The BDO remains untraced ever since.

Though officials were reluctant to admit that ransom has been served to them for the safe release of the kidnapped BDO, information gathered by this correspondent has unearthed that the kidnappers have indeed demanded Rs 50 lakhs initially for releasing their hostage.

The amount however was reduced to Rs 25 lakhs later today.

Deputy Commissioner Jacintha Lazarus said, 'We are trying our level best to bring him back securely,' but refused to comment much on the issue.

She nevertheless confirmed that the kidnappers have indirectly served ransom to secure the release of the BDO.

Officials from the Assam Rifles, State police and the District Administration have set up camp at the DC office since early today to take stock of the situation.

Any decision or initiative taken up by the Government, if any, still remains covert as it was a closed-door initiative.

When enquired, SP Churachandpur, GB Sharma only said, 'we are on the job, trying to locate and rescue him'.

The SP said he received information about the kidnapping at around 1.16 pm last nigh and have since registered a case.

Assam Rifles officials too declined to disclose much.

Family members of Ali who were here today said they want the government to take some responsibility and seek to secure his safe release.

Hajmal, the second son of the kidnapped BDO told The Sangai Express, they learnt about his father's kidnapping only late yesterday from an official as their attempt to reach him his mobile phone went in vain.

'My father is a diabetics and BP patient, and also on fast due to (Ramzan � a religious fasting for Muslims), we could only request them (his captors) to please set him free,' Hajmal, a plus twelve student said.

His mother, Mumtaz is still shell-shocked to learn that his father is taken for ransom, he said.

Though officials were tight-lipped on the group suspected to be behind the kidnap, a highly placed official quoting intelligence sources said, it could be an act of a break-away group of Kuki armed groups.

Evan at the time of writing this report there is no sign of Md Asraf Ali as yet.

The Hmar Peoples' Convention (D) meanwhile said they condemned in the strongest term the act of those armed elements in kidnapping the BDO from a village that was dominated by Hmars.

A statement of the armed group signed by John F Hmar also said, the HPC (D) will not merely accept such act and warned that stringent action would be taken against the perpetrators as and when their identity was revealed.

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