New Delhi: Assam Government has promised a CBI inquiry into the disappearance of UK-based NRI businessman Protul Deb from the State seven months ago, his daughter said today (Oct 31, 2004).

"The Chief Minister has promised a CBI inquiry into the disappearance of my father and also assured all help in tracking him," Sipra Deb, who met Assam Chief Minster Tarun Gogoi last evening, told.

Sipra had been in India for the past one week to request the Centre and the Assam Government to expedite the inquiry into the disappearance of her father, who was suspected to be kidnapped by a little known extremist group United Liberation Front of Barak from Bhairobi in Hailakandi district of south Assam on March 17.

Sipra, however, ruled out the involvement of any extremist group in the incident. She alleged that a Minister in the Assam Cabinet and his son were involved in the disappearance of her father.

"I hope the CM's assurance of CBI inquiry would not be caught up in bureaucratic wrangles," she said, hoping that her father was still alive in captivity.

"There are political as well as business reasons behind my father's disappearance," she said.

She alleged that her father, who contested the Assam Assembly elections in 2001 under a BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) ticket was "perceived as a threat by the rival candidate."