Dimapur, June 21 (MExN): There is still no news on the condition of the two Nagas, who were among a group of workers abducted by suspected militants of the Karbi People’s Liberation Tigers (KPLT). Kelesel Kikhi and Khroviho Kikhi alongwith five others, working at Longnit Mini Hydro Electric Project, about 26 kilometres away from Diphu district headquarters, were taken hostage by militants on June 10, intent on ransoming the company (P Das & Co.) contracted for executing work at the Rs. 52-crore hydro project in return for safe release of the workers.
Rescue efforts made by the Diphu police have remained unsuccessful nearly two weeks since the kidnapping crisis began. Hopes of a rescue situation had emerged on June 18, 19 and even on Thursday, but it came to naught.
The civil society of Karbi-Anglong led by the Karbi human rights watch group, women and student bodies are making all efforts to broker an end to the crisis and the safe release of the remaining seven hostages under captivity, sources said. It was also disclosed that the abductors had called up the family of the two Naga hostages to put pressure on the company to meet their ransom demand. Meanwhile, the Superintendent of Police, Karbi-Anglong when contacted declined to give any input on the progress of rescue operations.
According to reports, the Chief Minister’s Office in Kohima was appealed by certain quarters to take up the matter with its counterpart in Assam reportedly to put pressure on the Diphu police to expedite rescue efforts.
