Guwahati: A day ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Assam , one person was killed due to a blast in a crude oil carrying pipeline at Dikom in Dibrugarh district of in eastern Assam on Wednesday night even as security forces geared up vigil in view of the PM’s visit to the state.
An unidentified person was killed following a blast in a crude carrying pipeline near Dikom Oil Collecting Station (OCS) of Oil India Limited (OIL) in Dibrugarh district late Wednesday night.
The mutilated body was recovered by police on Thursday. Police have launched investigation to ascertain if the blast occurred during attempted oil theft, which is a regular phenomenon in the area, or handiwork of any militant outfit or miscreant.
Meanwhile, banned ULFA(I) has claimed responsibility for the blast, and said the body was that of its cadre Palash Asom alias Bobby Dohotia. However, the Special Director General of police (law and order), Kula Saikia claimed that police had not found any evidence of involvement of militants behind the blast in the oil pipeline and suspected that the blast occurred because of change of pressure of crude oil being transported through the pipeline. The official said police were on high alert all over the state where round the clock vigil was being maintained in view of the PM’s visit on Friday.
The PM Narendra Modi will visit the state Friday. He will first inaugurate the country’s longest river bridge, Dhola-Sadiya bridge over the Brahmaputra river at Dhola in Tinsukia district of eastern Assam and then to go to Gogamukh in neighbouring Dhemaji district to lay the foundation of a research station of ICAR there.
He will attend two functions in Guwahati — lay foundation of an AIIMS through remote control from the National Games stadium in the city and then address the nation from Khanapara in the city by attending a public rally on the occasion of 3rd anniversary of the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre. The AIIMS will be set up at Changsari near Guwahati city.
