Assam: BJP leader's son abducted by ULFA, Rs 1 crore ransom demanded

A BJP leader's son has been abducted by banned organisation United Liberation Front of Assam- Independent (ULFA-I) and ransom of Rs 1 crore was demanded for his release. In a video leaked online by ULFA-I, Kuldeep Moran, son of Tinsukia Zila Parishad's vice president Ratneshwar Moran, is seen surrounded by five masked men carrying assault rifles. According to reports, Kuldeep was abducted on August 1 and the video was released recently. 

In the video, Kuldeep, blindfolded, is seen confirming that he has been abducted by ULFA-I. "I have become weak and my health is also deteriorating. I am afraid I might die in cross-firing," he says. He is also seen requesting his parents, BJP MLA Bolin Chetia and Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal to get him released. 

According to a report in Hindustan Times, a caller, claiming to be from ULFA-I, asked Ratneshwar to arrange Rs one crore from BJP MLA Bolin Chetia for Kuldeep's release. Chetia is an MLA from Sadiya in upper Assam. 

ULFA-I General Secretary Anup Chetia denied any link to the organisation and he also expressed doubts over Moran's abduction. 

"Ratneshwar Moran is a small time BJP leader and he doesn't have the money to pay a 1 crore rupee ransom," Anup Chetia told CNN News18.