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ULFA attacks oil pipeline again

Suspected United Liberation Front of Asom militants made an abortive attempt to blow up yet another oil pipeline late Wednesday night on the outskirts of Guwahati city.

Officials said the bomb was planted by mistake on the sewerage line of the Guwahati Refinery. It was damaged badly.

The crude pipeline nearby was safe.

This is the third attack on the pipeline by the ULFA since the wee hours of January 26. The ultras blew off a portion near Digboi, hitting supply to the world's oldest refinery at Digboi, and then made an attempt to blow up the line at Golaghat, averted at the last moment by security forces.

Singularly targeting the pipeline that runs through the entire length of the Brahmaputra valley feeding three refineries on the way before leaving for the Barauni Refinery is a new ploy of the ULFA, sources said.

According to police sources, a loud noise was heard at 2200 hours from the Lakhra side. Police, after an extensive search, located the exact spot in the midst of a paddy field.

The militants misjudged and planted the bomb on the bigger pipeline, which was carrying the effluents of the Guwahati Refinery.

An improvised explosive device was used in the blast, police disclosed.

UNI

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