GUWAHATI; All the six hostages, kidnapped by the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA), since July, were freed Monday at different places in the north esteem state.
This was announced by the state chief minister Hiteswar Saikia, at a press conference here.
The six hostages released Dec.16 were S K Tiwari and Lohit Das, two senior civil servants of Assam, their driver Ranjan Das, and three other government officials, Chittaranjan Mohanty, Shiv Shankara Gupta and Kishen Paul.
Tiwari, who was released in Nagaon town, around 1800 hours IST, came to the residence of the deputy commissioner, Nagaon, D K Gohain, in a cycle rickshaw.
Later Tiwari, who looked hale and hearty, was driven to his residence here around 2100 hours IST.
The chief minister said that the release had been brought about by the government’s persistent contact with the ULFA leadership.
He appreciated the gesture of the rebel outfit and said “it is a good beginning”.
On being asked whether the govt would lift the ban on the ULFA and grant its cadres a safe passage, Saikia said this could be done if the outfit voiced its desire to eschew violence and create a peaceful atmosphere for talks.
Saikia appreciated the statement of the ULFA chairman, Arabindo Rajkhowa, who announced the decision to release the hostages.
Article extracted from this publication >>
