Family of abducted man offers prayers at Ulfa(I) leader Paresh Baruah's portrait

GUWAHATI: Family members of a tea garden employee in Tinsukia district of Assam, who was abducted by banned Ulfa (Independent) on June 8, on Tuesday offered ‘prayers’ to the outfit’s leader Paresh Baruah’s portrait seeking his immediate release from captivity.
The 52-year-old supervisor of Phaneng tea garden a Jagun, a private garden, Dinanath Upadhyaya was abducted by a group of five motorcycle-borne Ulfa(I) militants.On June 16, Ulfa(I) released a video where Upadhyaya was appealing to his employer Radha Chetia and Margherita BJP legislator Bhaskar Sharma to secure his release.
A member of Upadhyaya’s family said, “For us Paresh Baruah is God and we are praying before him to release him (Dinanath) immediately. He is innocent. We are poor people and have nothing to do with anyone. He is only bread earner of the family.”
Villagers of Udaypur have protested against the garden owner and the BJP MLA since Sunday and have blocked the national highway on Monday.
Police said that Paresh Baruah has called the garden owner and demanded a ransom of Rs 3.50 crore by Tuesday for Upadhyaya’s release.
On Saturday last Ulfa(I) released a video of Updahyaay in captivity while claiming respeonsibility for his abduction. Upadhyaya in the video is seen saying that he has been abducted by Ulfa(I) for passing on information on movements of its cadres and that of NSCN (Khaplang) to his employer and Margherita MLA. Assam Police additional director general (special branch) Pallab Bhattacharya said that from the video it appears that Upadhya has been taken to Myanmar in the base of Ulfa(I).