Scientist pleads with kidnappers to free her father

A British scientist has pleaded with Indian kidnappers, who seized her father in March and failed to release him after getting a £12,000 (€17,200) ransom, to set him free.

Dr Sipra Deb flew to India hoping to gain his release.

London-based businessman Protul Deb was kidnapped in south Assam in March by a little-known group – the United Liberation Front of Barak Valley.

A former research scientist at Leeds University, who is now studying in Sheffield to become a teacher, Dr Deb urged the abductors to make contact so that negotiations could be reopened.

The family paid a £10,000 (€14,380) ransom in April but 67-year-old Deb was not freed and nothing had been heard from the kidnappers since then.

Sitting alongside South Yorkshire police officers in the capital, New Delhi, Dr Deb said: “I urge those who hold my father to honour their commitment. We are not interested in bringing them to justice, we just want him back.

“If anyone has any information about him, no matter how insignificant, I besiege them to contact us.”

She said her father had a heart pacemaker fitted last year and she was worried about his health.

Accusing authorities in Assam of “not doing nearly enough” to secure his release, Dr Deb said her family had sent several written representations to Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi but received no response.

“I request the Indian government to ask CBI ( police) to conduct a fresh investigation so that even if my father is no longer alive, at least we can have his body back,” she said.

Mr Deb – who had settled in London two decades ago – had several bamboo plantations in Assam and Mizoram.

He had contested the 2001 elections against the Congress party’s’ Gautan Roy who is now a minister in the state Cabinet and also Deb’s brother-in-law.

Dr Deb said her father was provided security during the elections but this was later withdrawn even though he approached the court claiming his life was in danger.

“Assam police arrested 12 people, including two abductors, in connection with the kidnapping but they are now free regardless of confessions made. Some key suspects were prevented from being questioned by the police,” she claimed.

Two South Yorkshire police officers are in India to to provide “help and support”.

“As Mr Deb is an Indian national, we are not seeking to interfere with the action of the Indian police. Our main task is to provide help and support to the Deb family,” said Detective Chief Inspector Matthew Jukes.

Along with PC Bobby Dev, he is also seeking fresh leads in the case of Sheffield eight-year-old Nabeel Khan, who was snatched by his father over a year ago.