NDFB abducts Powergrid engineer
Guwahati: Suspected militants belonging to National Democratic Front of Bodoland (Sangbijit faction) or the NDFB (S) has abducted a senior engineer hailing from Andhra Pradesh who has been working in Assam for a company engaged by Power Grid Corporation of India from Chirang district in Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) in Assam on late Sunday evening, police informed.
The senior engineer identified as B A Rao has been working for a called C & C Ltd which has been engaged by Power Grid Corporation of India.
Police sources said here today the engineer was returning after a site inspection when his vehicle was waylaid by a group of suspected Bodo militant at Nangalbhanga area of the district.
The abducted engineer is a resident of Andhra Pradesh. Rao was travelling in his official vehicle with a supervisor, a helper and the driver. The militants stopped the vehicle and kidnapped all of them at gun point, but released the driver, helper and supervisor after sometime.
The militants, however, seized their mobile phones.
“They (the suspected militants) were in army fatigue and armed with sophisticated weapons,” Rao’s driver told the police. Police suspect that Rao has been kidnapped for ransom though no demand has been received as yet. Army and police have launched a massive search operation in the area. The Sashatra Seema Bol (SSB) has also been alerted along the India-Bhutan border in the vicinity. Police suspect hands of NDFB (S) behind the abduction. The area is close to the thickly forested border of India with Himalayan country of Bhutan.
Palatana project in Tripura resumes generation
Agartala: North-East India’s biggest gas fired thermal power project at Palatana in Tripura’s Gomati district has become operational after stopping generation for a few months.
Some technical faults in the compressor were repaired by BHEL, with generation beginning from last night, ONGC-Tripura Power Company (OTPC) sources said on Monday.
The project, which receives fuel from ONGC, will help reduce the power crisis in the region.
The 726 MW project’s first unit of 363 MW to cater to seven of the eight states in the region plagued with power shortage, was inaugurated by President Pranab Mukherjee on June 21
The second 363 MW would start generation in February next year.
The power project, combined with linked transmission and upstream gas supply network, has attracted investments of around 10,000 crore in the region.
The project was taken up in 2005. (PTI)
Kidnapped drivers rescued by police
Imphal: The Manipur Police was able to rescue two drivers who were kidnapped by Kuki militants earlier.
The All Manipur Drivers Union revealed that the two people were abducted along with their truck from Bongbal area of Churachandpur district on December 15.
Imphal East police said three people involved in the crime were apprehended and the drivers rescued yesterday. The truck had also been recovered.
Karam Dara and Soram Open were allegedly taken around the city by the militants. But one of them managed to alert the police. After a day long chase, the police managed to stop the vehicle at Khurai Salanthong, Imphal East.
Three persons allegedly involved in the kidnapping, were rounded up. (UNI)
Naga Hoho condemns assault
Kohima: The Naga Hoho on Monday expressed shock over the assault of passengers in a Zunheboto bound taxi from Dimapur, by four armed cadres on December 21.
A press note from the Naga Hoho said, “Reportedly, two female passengers along with other co-passengers returning home were tortured and molested by a group of armed cadres.”
It further stated that as per reports the armed cadres mercilessly beat the driver and co- passengers.
Terming it an “irrational act of violence,” the Naga Hoho stated that this form of harassment cannot be tolerated on any grounds and that solidarity should be shared by every responsible citizen. It further appealed for the authority concerned to take action against the culprits. (UNI)