`ULFA rebels demanded money from abducted cement co officials`

Shillong, Aug 24 (PTI) Two top officials of a cement
company who are being held captive by suspected United
Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) militants since Friday had
allegedly refused to pay Rs 20 lakh to the banned group,
Intelligence sources have said.

ULFA militants had demanded Rs 20 lakh from Shambhu
Dhanuka, manager of Virgo Cement Company, and chief engineer P
K Hore on Friday, the sources told PTI.

As they refused to pay the amount, Dhanuka and Hore
were abducted by five militants when they were on way to Damas
from Meghalaya's East Garo Hills district, bordering India's
north-eastern state of Assam, where the cement factory is
situated.

Dhanuka and Hore remain untraced, the sources said.

Their vehicle was found hours after the incident from
Miyapara, a dense forest area known for strong presence of
rebel groups, particularly ULFA, National Democratic Front of
Bodoland (NDFB) and besides some Meghalaya-based ones.

This is the second kidnapping case in the state within
a span of a month. A 30-year-old businessman, Amit Agarwal,
was abducted by suspected militants last month.

The Assam-based businessman was kidnapped while he was
on way home at Beltola in Guwahati from his stone quarry
in Byrnihat in Ri Bhoi district along Assam-Meghalaya.
Amit remain untraced even as police said the kidnappers had
demanded Rs 10 lakh for his release.

Ri Bhoi SP Ricky Dkhar said the matter was being
investigated. PTI