AIZAWL, Feb 20 NNN: As many as five employees of Mizoram Forest Department engaged in Dampa Forest Reserve in the departmental work were kidnapped by National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) yesterday morning at 4:30 am, police sources said today.
The abducted employees are identified as Nelson Vanlalruatkima (28) S/o K.Thanzama (L), Hunthar Veng, Aziawl, JCB operator and his younger brother Lalrinmawia (Mawitea), helper; Vanlalfaka Riang (30) S/o Kimthanga, Damparengpui; Lalsangmawia (32) S/o H.Vanlalsanga, Bethlehem, West Phaileng and Lalliansanga (42) S/0 Zomuana (l), Teirei Forest village. The kidnapped employees were believed to be taken to the NLFT camp at Thangnang, Bangladesh, sources further added. It is believed that the NLFT thinks that the forest departmental works in Dampa Forest Reserve is a contract work and they kidnapped the workers for demanding the ransom to the contractor. But, no demand has been made by the kidnappers till now, police informed the media.
Mizoram Police rushed to rescue the kidnapped workers soon after being informed about the news. Search operation was immediately started led by Lalchunglura, Additional SP, Mamit and staff of 4th IRB personnel along with the Teirei Forest employees to lead them. The operation is now being intensified.
Meanwhile, H.Ramthlenlian SP CID (SB) went to Tripura to seek the co-operation of Tripura Police. Sources said that the kidnappers are not Bru; they are NLFT (Bishwa Mohan Faction) and one of the kidnapped worker is a Bru. In this connection Mizoram Police asked the people to wait for the step taken by them, said the official sources today.
Meanwhile, a press communiqué issued today by the Centre Of India Trade Union Mizoram (CITUM) stated that they strongly condemned the act of the National Liberation Front of Tripura who kidnapped the five workers in Dampa Forest Reserve yesterday. CITUM demanded that the government rescue the kidnapped workers safely.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/militants-kidnap-forest-dept-employees/
