Ulfa bombs AGCL pipeline, Tinsukia plot foiled
Energy installations in Assam have once again come under the attack of Ulfa militants.
By Bikash Singh, TNN |
GUWAHATI: Energy installations have once again come under the attack of militant outfits. Suspected Ulfa militants blew up an Asom Gas Co Ltd (AGCL) pipeline near Bhekulajan Tea Estate under Tengakhat police station in Dibrugarh.
Meanwhile, the Tinsukia police averted a major disaster when they recovered an impro-vised explosive device (IED) planted near an oil pipeline in Langkasi. Sources in AGCL said fire tenders from OIL India Ltd (OIL) and AGCL have managed to douse the fires which engulfed the pipeline after the blast. The pipeline was temporarily closed. There was no casualty or injury in the blast as it was far from human habitation, sources added.
Police superintendent of Tinsukia district, Devojit Hazarika, told ET: "A combined team of police personnel and village defence party spotted an IED. With the help of army, the bomb was timely diffused. With this a major disaster was averted."
Intelligence sources said the blast is aimed at hitting the state economy. "Recently, a cou-ple of oil companies operating in Asom has been the soft target of militants. Early this year, Ulfa had issued a Rs 500 crore demand note to ONGC," he said.
Mr Hazarika pointed out that Ulfa has opposed OIL's proposed plan to carry out seismic survey of the Brahmaputra river bed. OIL has decided to invest Rs 100 crore in this sur-vey. The 2-D seismic survey of the 1809-km riverbed will be done by a Kazakhstan firm.
Ulfa mouthpiece 'Swadhinata' termed the move as another attempt to drain out the re-sources of Asom.
Ulfa alleged that over the years the Government of India has been exploiting Asom by taking away its resources and the latest move would not only affect the water resources, but would have a serious impact on the Dibru Saikhowa National Park.
Meanwhile, the Tinsukia police averted a major disaster when they recovered an impro-vised explosive device (IED) planted near an oil pipeline in Langkasi. Sources in AGCL said fire tenders from OIL India Ltd (OIL) and AGCL have managed to douse the fires which engulfed the pipeline after the blast. The pipeline was temporarily closed. There was no casualty or injury in the blast as it was far from human habitation, sources added.
Police superintendent of Tinsukia district, Devojit Hazarika, told ET: "A combined team of police personnel and village defence party spotted an IED. With the help of army, the bomb was timely diffused. With this a major disaster was averted."
Intelligence sources said the blast is aimed at hitting the state economy. "Recently, a cou-ple of oil companies operating in Asom has been the soft target of militants. Early this year, Ulfa had issued a Rs 500 crore demand note to ONGC," he said.
Mr Hazarika pointed out that Ulfa has opposed OIL's proposed plan to carry out seismic survey of the Brahmaputra river bed. OIL has decided to invest Rs 100 crore in this sur-vey. The 2-D seismic survey of the 1809-km riverbed will be done by a Kazakhstan firm.
Ulfa mouthpiece 'Swadhinata' termed the move as another attempt to drain out the re-sources of Asom.
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Ulfa alleged that over the years the Government of India has been exploiting Asom by taking away its resources and the latest move would not only affect the water resources, but would have a serious impact on the Dibru Saikhowa National Park.
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