From Our Correspondent
Guwahati: Two senior Assam Forest Department officials who were abducted by tribal militants on March 3 last in Karbi Anglong district of Assam were released by their abductors in the wee hours on Tuesday.
Police informed that Chief Conservator of Forest (CCF) Abhijit Rabha, a 1984 batch Indian Forest Service officer, and ranger Ranjan Boruah were released by the militants near Bokoliaghat. The forest officials on their release were subjected to medical checkup by the administration and looked alright.
Both Rabha and Boruah informed that they were feeling alright though they had been frequently made to shift locations by their abductors since their abduction on March 3 afternoon while they were coming back from insurgents infested Singhasan Hills after conducting a survey.
Newly-formed Karbi People’s Liberation Tiger (KPLT) were involved in abduction of the two forest officers for money. The police and Army had launched operation in and around Singhasan Hills areas to trace the officials following their kidnapping.
Earlier, several non-governmental scientific and conservation organisations working in North East India, including Aaranyak, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Dolphin Foundation, Early Birds, EcoSystems-India, Green Earth, Wildlife Trust of India and WWF-India appealed for safe and immediate unconditional release of the two abducted forest officers, CCF Abhijit Rabha and Range Officer Ranjan Barua.
“These officers have worked sincerely for conservation of state’s forest and wildlife which is of utmost importance for our society. Requesting everyone’s support in this regard, the NGOs hope that the good sense will prevail and the abducted officers will be immediately released unharmed in order to enable them and other workers of the Forest Department to contribute towards conservation of biodiversity and natural resources. Conservation efforts by committed officers and civil society organizations will not only ensure ecological security of the region but will also enhance the quality of life for all, especially for the communities living in and around the forested areas,” a statement issued by the NGOs said.