AIZAWL, Feb 23 � The National Liberation Front of Tripura (Biswa Mohan) faction have demanded Rs 1 crore as ransom for the release of five forest department muster roll workers who were kidnapped from their camp site in Dampa Wildlife Sanctuary in West Phaileng, Mamit district. They were kidnapped on Tuesday. The abductors reportedly made this demand to the Field Director of the Dampa reserve over phone, according to police sources.
The demand and the kidnapping has raised tension levels in the area as local NGOs believe that Bru armed groups were behind the kidnapping incident.
As tension prevails in the West Phaileng area of Mamit district, official police sources clarified that the National Liberation Front of Tripura (Biswa Mohan) faction of the group was behind the kidnapping.
Police Public Relations Officer (PRO), C Lalruaia dispelled the popular belief that the kidnappers were part of one of the Bru armed groups. He told press persons that the police headed by Police CID, Special Branch (SB) SP, H Ramthlengliana are in the area and in touch with their counterparts in Tripura to trace out the kidnappers.
Meanwhile the Central Young Mizo Association (CYMA) and the Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) in a press statement asking the Government to bring back the kidnapped persons safely and condemned the kidnapping incident.
The CYMA asked the people to remain calm and not take matters into their own hands. Meanwhile the YMA of West Phaileng has given the kidnappers a two-day deadline to peacefully release the kidnapped persons.
