Guwahati, Dec 3: A CISF outpost in the Sarupathar sector of Upper Assam’s Golaghat district, has come under threat from the NSCN(K), an insurgent group from Nagaland.
The outpost, tasked with securing an Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) site, has been ordered to vacate by the group, failing which the extremists have threatened to launch an attack.
A group of 10-12 armed militants reportedly approached the KHBI outpost, demanding its immediate evacuation. The outpost is located in a Disputed Area Belt (DAB) along the Assam-Nagaland border, where territorial claims remain contentious.
The militants cited an order from the Nagaland government to shut down ONGC’s oil rig operations in the area as the reason for their demand. The incident has triggered panic among the CISF personnel.
Upon receiving the threat, the CISF relayed the information to key security and administrative authorities, including Golaghat Superintendent of Police, ONGC security in charge, CRPF battalions 155 and 142 and Uriamghat police station.
To counter the threat, reinforcements were dispatched immediately. Security measures have been heightened, with additional manpower deployed to the outpost. Nearby CISF outposts, including KGP-1 (3 km away), and units from the CRPF and local police have joined efforts to bolster security.
The outpost is now reinforced and better equipped to handle potential threats. Efforts are underway to de-escalate tensions while ensuring the safety of CISF personnel and civilians in the area.
Local authorities, including border magistrates and village heads, have been briefed on the situation. The CISF outpost is critical to securing ONGC operations in the region. However, its location in the Disputed Area Belt makes it susceptible to threats from insurgent groups.
The proximity to Nagaland and the contested claims over the region add to the complexities of maintaining peace and security. In the last month, the Nagaland government has shut down three wells of ONGC for allegedly not obtaining prior permission before starting drilling activities.
When contacted, a senior official of ONGC’s Jorhat Asset revealed that the rig in question was one of three sites that had been shut down in 2021. Since then, ONGC personnel have not visited the rig. “We keep CISF there for guarding the closed rig to avoid any accident,” the official said.
He distanced ONGC from the conflict, emphasizing, “This issue is between the Assam government and the Naga groups regarding the border dispute. We have nothing to do with it. But the CISF has to be there for security.”
