GUWAHATI, May 19: India’s military is probing charges that an army officer masterminded ransom kidnappings of tea planters with the help of tribal separatists in the remote northeast, the army said on Thursday. Lt Col Chandra Mohan Shukla, who commanded an artillery regiment in Assam state, has been charged with organising the kidnappings of wealthy tea planters and businessmen with the assistance of rebels belonging to the National Socialist Council of Nagaland, the army spokesman said.

“There are allegations Lieutenant Colonel Shukla worked hand-in-glove with the rebels in carrying out kidnappings for ransom. A court of inquiry is now investigating specific charges against the officer,” the spokesman said. The officer has been suspended while the closed-door inquiry is carried out.

The rebels staged the abductions while the officer was alleged to have carried out negotiations with frantic family members desperate to secure the release of the kidnap victim. The abduction victim would be freed “after some unknown amount changed hands,” a police official said. The kidnappings were alleged to have been carried out in 1999. —AFP