The Bru outfit was reported to have been indulged in illegal activities, including extortion and highway robbery in Hailakandi district of Assam, and also in Mizoram and Tripura, police said, adding that a combing operation for rescuing the hostages and arresting of the culprits has been continuing unabated.
Sources in the state police department said while no official confirmation was received, the abductors had asked for Rs 5 crore as ransom for release of the captives.
ABCIL project manager Premlal Dhiman (48) and commercial manager Bajrang Lalbhurgi were abducted by armed people suspected to be Bru militants from a place near Meidum village under in Mizoram-Tripura-Assam border of Kolasib district on June 6 by 10 masked men armed with AK-47 assault rifles and pistols.