NEW DELHI, Aug 25 ? Fresh alert has been sounded following reports of ULFA planning to target vital oil installations particularly storage tanks in Assam, highly placed sources said. Amidst escalating tension in the Region, Union Home Minister, Shivraj Patil will be making his first trip to North-east on September 4-6. The Union Home Minister is slated to tour Assam, Meghalaya and Manipur. Sri Patil visit to Manipur would be crucial as he is expected to break the ice by trying to open dialogue with the agitating organisations.
Meanwhile, according to Petroleum Ministry sources here they were alerted by Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) that intelligence inputs indicated that the ULFA was planning major strikes in the State?s four refineries including Guwahati, Numaligarh, Digboi and Bongaigaon. The inputs apparently were based on wireless intercepts and interrogation reports of arrested ULFA-men, sources said, adding that round the clock security was now being ordered around vital installations.
Following this, the oil companies were directed by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to tighten security in all assets located across the State. Particular attention in being paid to the storage tanks and pipelines network, which was often targeted in the past by the militants. In addition, Assam Police and its own security agencies have been requested to provide extra security cover to top oil officials. They were also advised to restrict their movement. The outlawed ULFA had gained notoriety in the past for abducting oil officials. A general manager of Guwahati Refinery, engineers of ONGC had all fallen victims and few of them had their live in ULFA?s custody.
With ULFA getting more belligerent, the Petroleum Ministry does not to take chances. The State Government has been alerted for better co-ordination. The Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi recently disclosed that the State Government was planning a change of strategy to counter ULFA change tactics. The outfit, he said in a departure from past practice has started using explosives in a big way. They have started using sophisticated explosive devices, which were not used in the Region so far, he had commented.
Meanwhile, in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Sriprakash Jaiswal said in a written reply that links between some NGOs and terrorist groups in North-east and Jammu and Kashmir has come to the notice of the Government. A few of them in J&K were reportedly involved in funding of terrorists.
In the North-east, the Minister identified Manab Adhikar Sangram Samiti (MASS), North East Co-ordination Committee on Human Rights, United Committee, Manipur, Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights and Naga Students Federation as some of the NGOs which had links with underground outfits. The Centre is keeping a close watch on these organisations including monitoring of their funding and working besides sensitising the State Governments.