NDFB demands Rs 5 lakh every year from NHPC

GUWAHATI, April 27 — Militant outfit National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) has demanded an amount of Rs five lakh every year from the National Hydro Electric Power Corporation (NHPC). In a release here today, Capt B Habrang, Commanding Officer of the 2nd Battalion of the NDFB, said that the outfit released NHPC engineer Amitabh Jha from its captivity yesterday with the condition that the NHPC would pay a ‘donation’ of Rs five lakh every year. Jha was abducted on May 14 last year when he was on his way to Guwahati from Gaylegphu in Bhutan. The NDFB release said that the other conditions for the release of the abducted engineer include engagement of local Bodo labourers by the NHPC. The NDFB also demanded that the NHPC would request the official of Bhutan to do so. The NDFB claimed that during his stay in captivity, the NHPC engineer was ‘kept with honour’ and he was handed over to his family members with colourful gifts like Boro Aronai, Dokhana and Gamocha. The NDFB further claimed that Jha was ‘safe and sound’ despite the prolonged mental suffering.