Click to play videoNew Delhi: In the ethnic clashes going on in Assam, Biharis might be the target but its oil companies that are getting the jitters.
Security at oil installations across Assam have been beefed up after a RAW tip off that the general manager of Indian Oil's Numaligarh plant C B Hanumurthy was to be kidnapped before January 1.
This was in retaliation to the arrest of commander of ULFA's 27th battalion Pallav Saikia on December 14, 2006. Adding to the ULFA's ire was the Centre's announcement that the national games would go ahead as planned.
And the oil companies are not taking any chances. General Manager of ONGC R S Sharma said, “We have our own security and security for staff has been increased.”
It's not just the oil companies, the tea industry, the favourite hunting ground of the ULFA, is also on alert. The Army is now camping in the tea gardens as the government intensifies operations.
"At this point in time, we are voicing our concerns over the incidents that have happened. We would like to understand and perceive that the tea estates have the necessary resilience to take these incidents," says Indian Tea Association Secretary General Monjit Dasgupta.
The last time around the ULFA nearly brought industry to its knee but this time, it seems that both the Centre and the state governments mean business because they know that if the ULFA has to be flushed out, it has to be now.
(With Himika Chaudhuri in Kolkata)
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