Guwahati, Oct 26: The United Bodo Peoples Organisation (UBPO) has called on the United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I) to release abducted tea garden employee Gautam Basumatary immediately and without any conditions.
In a statement issued on Saturday, UBPO president Manoranjan Basumatary and general secretary Pitambar Brahma expressed deep concern over Gautam Basumatary’s abduction.
Gautam, a factory manager at Himalayan Tea Company, was reportedly taken by a group of armed militants from the tea estate in Jagun in Upper Assam’s Tinsukia district, on the night of October 23.
UBPO leaders shared further details about Gautam Basumatary’s abduction, revealing that he was taken along with the tea estate manager, who was later released as he was unable to walk, leaving Gautam in the custody of the militants.
Since the abduction, there has been no communication or ransom demand from the abductors, though police and family sources believe ULFA-I militants are responsible.
The tea estate, where Gautam worked as a supervisor, is owned by tea planter Radha Chetia.
Gautam, the son of Rebot Basumatary, comes from a poor family in Houjunpur, Jagun, adding to the urgency of UBPO’s plea for his safe release. Gautam Basumatary’s family remains in deep distress, awaiting any news about his whereabouts.
Tinsukia Superintendent of Police (SP) Gaurav Abhijit Dilip stated that the police have conducted raids at multiple locations, using clues gathered from CCTV footage to trace the abductors’ escape route.
Authorities have also sealed the border area along Arunachal Pradesh to prevent any cross-border movements linked to the case. The police expressed confidence in identifying the culprits soon and uncovering the motive behind the abduction, which has heightened security efforts and intensified the search across the region.
