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Special force to give security to ONGC men in Assam

The Assam government and the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation on Wednesday agreed to raise a special battalion to provide security to the oil major's employees working in the state.

The move came after the killing of five ONGC surveyors in a militant attack in Karbi Anglong district on June 24.

In a meeting between Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and Chairman-cum-Managing Director of ONGC Subir Raha held in Guwahati, it was decided to draw up a comprehensive security plan for those engaged in survey and drilling operations in interior regions.

ONGC will bear the financial burden of raising the battalion and the government will recruit, train and give arms to its cadres.

At the height of violence unleashed by the United Liberation Front of Asom in the early nineties, the Assam Tea Plantation Security Force was raised to protect workers and managers in the state's tea gardens.

The tea industry had paid for the one-time cost of raising the battalion and also borne the expenses for buying equipment and arms.

During Wednesday's meeting, it was decided to form coordination committees with police, district administration officials and ONGC representatives in every district of Assam to arrange security for the field staff and officials.

Assam Director General of Police H K Deka, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) P K Dutta, Deputy Inspector General (security) Thomas Kurian, bureaucrats from the Union petroleum ministry and other ONGC officials attended the meeting.

After the meeting, the ONGC chief said there was no question of suspending operations in Assam. He said that a single incident could not deter the ONGC employees from completing their mission. "The ONGC is playing a vital role in socio-economic development of the state. If our employees decide to pack up, it will not be a fair decision for the people of Assam."

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