GUWAHATI: The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) suspended work in Nagaland again on May 30 following simultaneous attacks on its Dimapur drilling sites by unidentified gunmen suspected to be members of the Isaac-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN).
The panic-stricken staff have been evacuated to a safe place The attack was an ultimatum to the ONGC to stop work or pay the outlawed outfit Rs 1 crore towards “taxes” for extracting oil from the state The Naga Students” Federation (NSF) has warned the ONGC with dire consequences if it does not close its operations in the state before April 30.
The insurgents stormed the two sites in Tosezu and Hozhuke in Dimapur on Saturday evening when work was in full swing. They fired in the air and then directed the ONGC staff to leave the sites. They then planted bombs in the drilling equipment. Two bombs each went off on both sites causing heavy damage
C.P.B.Saini general manager of ONGCs Dhansiri Valley Project said the unexploded bombs weighed six kg each and measured 11 inches. The insurgents warned the staff that they would be killed if they returned to work
Saini said the attacks were a warning to the ONGC to wind up its operation before the Saturday deadline.
Article extracted from this publication >> May 6, 1994
