Guwahati, February 06 2009: Suspected militants abducted four surveyors in North Cachar Hills district of Assam last night.

Defence spokesperson Nirupam Bhargava said this while adding that the surveyors belong to Indian Oil Tanking Limited (IOTL) who were engaged in seismic survey work in the area.

Surveyors were kidnapped from an area under Langting police station on Thursday night.

Sources in police informed that ransom might be the motive behind the abduction.

"We are suspecting the hand of anti talk faction of Dima Halam Daogah militants led by Jewel Garlosa, which is also known as the Black Widow.

However, nothing can be said with certainty now.

Militancy in the area has severely affected developmental projects.

In the past, the militants have attacked railway men and property forcing railways to withdraw train services temporarily.

Four persons working for a cement plant were also killed in past.

Militants have unleashed reign of terror on security personnel guarding the establishments of the Public sector utility North Eastern Electric Power Corporation's (NEEPCO) .

Militants attack on the contractors and security personnel engaged in national project of Lumding-Silchar-Jiribam gauge conversion project has even hard hit the project.

The project has been badly affected time and again.

In 2006, 11 people Railway Protection Force engaged in the project were killed by same militant outfit.

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