New Delhi: The Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC) has received a RS 500-crore extortion demand from the United Liberation Front Of Asom (ULFA).
Very high-level officials said the oil major received the Rs 500-crore extortion threat from the banned militant outfit recently. The top management of the ONGC has flown down to Assam to take up the issue with the Assam government.
When CNN-IBN contacted ONGC chairman Subir Raha, he, however, refused to comment on the ULFA threat.
The sources said the Centre and the Home Ministry have been apprised of this development.
While ONGC has been not forthcoming on the issue, high-level sources confirmed to CNN-IBN that the extortion threat was recieved in the past couple of days.
The ONGC plans to invest Rs 3,500 crore in the state in the next three to four years.
The news comes as the Prime Minister begins a two-day visit to the trouble-torn state. The PM is likely to hold discussions with the state authorities and various public organisations — including All Assam Students' Union — on a peace process in the state.
While the militant outfit has been lying low for sometime now in response to a peace move mediated by eminent Assamese author Indira Goswami, the rebels broke the lull on Sunday with an attempt to blow up an IOC crude oil pipeline in Palasguri village in Chirang district.
The pipeline was damaged partially in the blast. However, no one was injured in the blast.
The blast took place at around 1900 hrs (IST) at Palasguri village under Dhaligaon police station, they said adding the fire was put off immediately and repair works on the pipeline were on for restoring crude oil supply to Bongaigaon refinery.
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