ULFA & Abductions

July 1, 1991: As many as 15 people, including Russian coalmine expert Sergei Gritchenko, working for Coal India Ltd from Ledo, Commissioner (Personnel) SK Tiwari, IAS, from Guwahati, eight ONGC officers from Jorhat and Sibsagar and MM Das, an Assam civil service officer who was Additional Deputy Commissioner (Darrang district) from Mangoldoi. Gritchenko was killed on the first day and his body never found. VS Raju, an ONGC engineer was killed and his body dumped at Simaluguri in Sivasagar, his colleague P P Srivastava was killed in a crossfire at Nitaipukhuri in Sivasagar. The others were released in phases after Chief Minister Hiteswar Saikia released over 300 ULFA cadres from jail.

July 4, 1997: Sanjoy Ghose, secretary AVARD-NE from Majuli island. Though ULFA kept issuing various stories, it was later confirmed that he was killed the same day and body dumped into the Brahmaputra. ULFA finally admitted his death on August 6, 1997.

February 1999: Subhash Buragohain, project director of the Nalbari district rural development agency. Released unharmed after four months.

Sept 19, 1999: Pannalal Oswal, BJP candidate for Dhubri Lok Sabha constituency, abducted while on election campaign. The ULFA demanded Rs 5 crore and also asked him to raise its sovereignty demand if he wins. His body was found five days later.

May 30, 2004: Nirmalendu Langthasa, son of then Assam Veterinary Minister and senior Congress leader G C Langthasa, kidnapped from Haflong. The ULFA wanted information on seven senior militants who went missing after the December 2003 Bhutan operations. Released on August 11, 2004, reportedly after payment of a huge sum.

March 9, 2006: PWD chief engineer Suren Das kidnapped from Guwahati. ULFA demanded Rs 25 lakh. Released him two months later as he suffered from malaria. Das died in Guwahati a few days after his release.

April 17, 2007: PC Ram, FCI executive Director (NE) abducted from Guwahati. ULFA initially demanded Rs 21 crore. Later, demanded release of two senior militants. Ram killed in "crossfire" near Guwahati on July 11.