Khagaria DM: In touch with Arunachal Pradesh dist administration for release of 28-year-old

PATNA: Khagaria administration is in touch with its counterparts in Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh for the safe and quick release of Ram Kumar, who has been kept hostage by insurgents for the last more than one month, DM Alok Ranjan Ghosh said on Friday.
Kumar (28) from Bahadurpur village under Alauli police station area in Khagaria was allegedly kidnapped along with Pranab Kumar Gogoi of Assam from an oil drilling site in Changlang on December 21 last year.ULFA-I and a group belonging to NSCN-IM are allegedly involved in the kidnapping for ransom. Both work for a private oil drilling firm.
The insurgents had released a video of Kumar in which he could be heard urging Bihar CM Nitish Kumar for help in order to get him released by talking to his Assam counterpart Sarbananda Sonowal.
In reply to a query, additional chief secretary (home) Amir Subhani on Thursday night had said the state government was in touch with the Arunachal government and efforts were being made to get Kumar released.
When asked, Ghosh told TOI over phone that Kumar’s wife met him on Friday to seek help for getting her husband released safely as soon as possible.
“I am sending a letter with the petition submitted by Kumar’s wife to Changlang DM. I will also seek an update from him on the progress made till now in the case,” he said.
Ghosh said the matter was being monitored at the highest level by the state government. “Higher authorities are also in touch with their counterparts,” he said.
The DM said SP Amitesh Kumar has already written a letter to his Changlang counterpart soon after it came to light on Thursday. He is taking periodic updates.
“Though it’s a police matter, the district administration would provide all necessary assistance to Kumar’s wife and children in Khagaria,” he said.
Kumar’s wife Bina Kumari told TOI on Friday that she only wants her husband’s safe release.
Kumar’s five-year-old son is suffering from blood cancer and his treatment expenses are met from his father’s salary. The woman said in her husband’s absence, she is having a tough time in getting his son treated properly in Patna.