GUWAHATI, May 28 � Militants belonging to the Kamatapur Liberation Organization (KLO) are suspected to be behind the kidnapping and murder of Agriculture engineer Gadapani Pathak. The suspicion of the involvement of the KLO came after the release of Faizul Islam, who was kidnapped along with Pathak.
Police sources said here that KLO has some bases in the districts of Dhubri and Bongaigaon and the involvement of the group in the incident can be suspected. The miscreants involved in the killing of Pathak used small arms and the involvement of common criminals to earn some easy money also cannot be ruled out.
Sources said that Faizul Islam, who was kidnapped along with Pathak, was released near Chapar in Dhubri district last evening and a police officer escorted him back to Bongaigaon. As Islam�s health condition was not good, he has been admitted to the Bongaigaon civil hospital.
Sources said that the abductors called up the family members of Islam and demanded a ransom of Rs one crore for his release. However, police refused to divulge whether any money changed hands.
Pathak and Islam were kidnapped on May 2 by a group of around eight armed miscreants, who stopped the vehicle in which they were travelling and separated the inmates of the vehicle including the driver. Pathak, who offered resistance to the miscreants and he was shot at following a scuffle. His body was found next day.
On the other hand, the miscreants managed to take away Islam who did not offer any resistance and he was kept in jungles near the border with Bhutan. Islam admitted before the police that he was kept in makeshift shelter in the jungles, where his health condition deteriorated. However, police could not question him properly considering his health condition. �We will be able to question him thoroughly only after his health improves and his questioning may unearth vital information about the kidnapping,� police sources said.
