ULFA-I claims responsibility, security agencies decline

A CORRESPONDENT

DIGBOI: Following a powerful explosion that rocked the Digboi Oil Town in Tinsukia district here on Friday evening, sensation, as well as confusion, hold good as there were no material evidence, causalities, or damage anywhere within the township to ascertain exactly what was the source and site of the huge explosion.

A huge and far-reaching explosion was heard by the people of the in between 6 and 6.30 pm from a site yet to be specifically located or traced but within the township area lying close to the Digboi AOD refinery plant.

Though the source of the sound remains undetected and the impact in any form was yet to be discovered by the security agencies till this evening, the people were reportedly in a state of bewilderment. There were no reports on any loss to human lives and property.

While on one hand a press release of the ULFA claimed the responsibilities of the blast while the various security agencies pressed in the job categorically denied the sound as the bomb explosion.

"The incident of bomb attack was carried out by the ULFA (I) at around 6.45 pm on 22nd January," further states the ULFA press communiqué.

On the contrary, a well placed source at the Indian army rubbishing the claim of the outfit said that it cannot be a blast caused by any explosives triggered by any militant organization as there is no specific site of the explosion or any such circumstantial evidences like splinters or human causalities or damage to property.

There is no denying the fact the militants have been constantly moving around the vulnerable Inter-State locations in Tinsukia district looking out the opportunities to carry out their nefarious designs in the run-up of the nation's Red Letter Day on 26th January.

It is also true that ULFA in one its earlier terror strike at 5000 KL petrol tank (Oil reservoir) under AOD Digboi was perpetrated from almost the same location surrounded by AOD residential quarters in 2003. The reservoir was set on fire causing staggering loss in the tune-up to around 100 million.

The unused AOD vacant quarters in and around the refineries and CRPF and Army camps –presently safe hideouts for the druggist and gamblers might cost heavily, if not acted upon by AOD management on time.

Moreover, Paresh Baruah the C in C of the ULFA in one of his recent media communications established after kidnapping the two employees of a private oil company in Arunachal's Diyun had sounded stern against the operations of the multinational oil and gas company's in Assam.

Most of the petty vendors and shopkeepers who heard the sound from seemingly a close proximity are running their daily business along the road between the CRPF and Army camps located within 200 meters distance from each other. Few local vendors who had briefed the media on Friday in haste corrected themselves again before the media this afternoon stating that the source and sites of the explosion was not specific.'

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