WWF-India and government agencies working towards release of abducted volunteers

New Delhi: Six young volunteers, including three women, engaged with WWF-India carrying out field monitoring for the All India Tiger Estimation Project in Chirang Forest Division of Western Assam have gone missing, presumably abducted, from an area near Ultapani on the afternoon of Sunday 06 February 2011. WWF-India is working closely with the government authorities at different levels to trace the missing volunteers.

WWF-India’s Sr. Coordinator in Assam Dr. Anupam Sarmah is representing the organisation in the talks with the authorities. Other senior members of WWF-India are also present and are monitoring the situation.

The Bodoland Territorial Council and the state Government authorities are working to resolve this crisis. We have also been informed that the volunteers are safe.

The NGO community in Assam has appealed for the safe and immediate release of these volunteers. They have stated that “These volunteers are innocent students from our own native state and educational institutions…. The NGOs hope that good sense will prevail and the volunteers will be immediately released unharmed in order to enable the civil society organisations and their workers to contribute towards nature conservation…especially for the communities living in and around the forested areas.”

WWF-India thanks all partners and individuals who have expressed concern and offered support. We are putting in our best efforts to ensure the safe and early release of this team of enthusiastic and committed conservationists.

For further information, please contact:
Kristy Woudstra
[email protected]
office: 416-484-7703
mobile: 416-859-9536