Fear grips Kumchaikha; nearly 60 employees of Quippo oil company abandon drilling site

OUR CORRESPONDENT

BORDUMSA: All operations of the private oil firm in the Innao site here have come to a standstill after more than 60 staffers of the company fled from the site. Security forces have been deployed to take care of the properties in the premises of the private oil company. This was stated by Dr Devansh Yadav, Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Changlang District in Eastern Arunachal Pradesh.

Interrecting with The Sentinel on Monday evening, Dr Yadav further said, "Normalcy will be restored after the security forces engaged in the rescue operation reach a desirable conclusion."

Dr Yadav added, "Possibly gripped by fear, suspicion and uncertainty that looms the area following the abduction of two employees of the company from their Innao-based drilling site earlier on December 21, the other employees might have left the place for their respective homes or their firm's Duliajan-based office for safety reasons."

Mentionably, drilling superintendent P.K. Gogoi (51), a resident of Sivasagar town in Assam, and radio operator Ram Kumar (35), who hails from Bihar were kidnapped by members of militant organisations on December 21. Both employees of the private oil-drilling firm are now being made hostage. The abducted victims were engaged in the drilling jobs under M/s Quippo Oil & Gas Infrastructure Limited operating in the Kumchaikha area of Innao under Diyun Police Station in Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh.

A local resident living near the drilling site said that all the employees of the company, engaged in various jobs in the drilling site, suddenly left the place together and boarded two Assam-bound traveller buses earlier on Sunday morning.

"We are not aware of the reasons behind the sudden development yet the company's employees were greatly frightened after the kidnapping incident," he said.

On the other hand, various security agencies were pressed effectively in the rescue operation in all the nearby inter-State vulnerable locations.

Meanwhile, a financial advisor of the company as a representative from its Delhi HQs has reportedly initiated talks with the kidnappers. Till the filling of this report, he was trying to negotiate the safe return of the two employees presently kept as hostages.

The pain and mental agony of the dependents of both the victims could be felt as they have been repeatedly urging the kidnappers to ascertain the well being of the head of their families; and allow the duo to have a few seconds' talk over phone with anyone of their relatives.

Meanwhile agencies report that the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA-I) has threatened to attack oil installations, including Oil India in Arunachal Pradesh if they cannot produce ransom.

"There have been multiple ransom calls to the Quippo Oil and Gas Infrastructure Company demanding ransom," Deputy Commissioner of Changlang, Devansh Yadav said.

An OIL spokesperson said they have faced no major issue so far and confirmed that security has been beefed up.

ULFA(I) had claimed responsibilities for abducting two employees of an oil company in Arunachal Pradesh's Changlang district, identified as PK Gogoi and Ram Kum, on December 21.

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