Ongole: An engineer belonging to Kunamnenivari Palem village of Prakasam district has been kidnapped in Assam. His relatives are worried as the kidnappers are demanding a huge sum to release the engineer, Dandamudi Nagamalleswara Rao, 50. He was working with Vasishta Constructions. Rao’s relatives are asking Vasishta Constructions to initiate steps for his release. Vasistha Constructions won the contract to build the Guwahati-Silchair NH, and Rao was working as the crusher in-charge of the company’s hot mix plant.
The family got information about the kidnap on Saturday and they immediately informed SP P. Pramod Kumar who contacted the Assam police. Rao’s brother-in-law M. Brahmaiah said that on Saturday they got a call from Vasishtha Constructions manager T. Satyanarayana that Nagamalleswara Rao was kidnapped by Bodo militants. He said the kidnappers first demanded Rs 10 crore as ransom for the release of Rao and later cut it to Rs 6 crore.
Meanwhile, Prakasam SP P. Pramod Kumar said the Assam police had formed special teams to trace Nagamalleswara Rao. The Assam Rifles have also launched searches. He said that according to Assam police, the Bodo extremists are not involved in the kidnap. Mr Pramod said the kidnappers have cut down the ransom to Rs 30 lakh. A sorrowful Sandip said that his mother died three months ago and they were living with relatives at Ongole. He said that his father was working in Assam to fund his and his sister Lakshmi Manojna's education. He appealed to the AP and Assam governments to try to get his father released.
Mr Brahmaiah, Sandip and other relatives met district joint collector, K. Yacub Naik, on Sunday appealing for the release of Nagamalleswara Rao. Mr Naik assured them about bringing the issue to the notice of chief secretary seeking appropriate action. Meanwhile, Prakasam SP Mr P. Pramod Kumar said the Assam police had formed special teams to trace Nagamalleswara Rao. The Assam Rifles have also launched searches. Speaking to this newspaper on Sunday, he said that according to Assam police, the Bodo extremists are not involved in the kidnap. Mr Pramod said the kidnappers have cut down the ransom to Rs 30 lakh.
