Ulfa blasts oil tankers in Assam, police trash claim

The Paresh Barua faction of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (Ulfa) has claimed to have turned a vital installation of an oil major into an inferno as part of their renewed subversion while the police trashed the claim.

The Paresh Barua faction of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (Ulfa) has claimed to have turned a vital installation of an oil major into an inferno as part of their renewed subversion while the police trashed the claim.

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In a statement, an Ulfa spokesperson said its field operatives blew up a crude oil collection station at Tipling near Oil India Limited (OIL) headquarters Duliajan in eastern Assam's Dibrugarh district on Friday afternoon.

"The attack was part of our campaign to target vital installations. Such attacks against groups exploiting Assam's natural resources will continue," the statement warned.

But district police chief Arabinda Kalita said the outfit was lying. "It was an accidental fire and not an act of sabotage. A spark after a minor collision between two oil tankers caused the fire," he said.

An OIL security officer also ruled out the possibility of sabotage. "I am convinced an accidental spark caused the fire. A 10 ft high boundary wall surrounds the installation manned by a large number of CISF personnel. Besides, there is an army camp nearby," he said.