Militants torch nine oil tankers in Assam's Tinsukia district

Suspected Naga militants set ablaze nine crude oil-carrying tankers at Namsik area in Jagun near Assam-Arunachal Pradesh boundary at Tinsukia district of eastern Assam on Tuesday night.  

 The tankers were moving from Kharsang in Arunachal Pradesh to Digboi in Assam when they were set on fire near Jagun.  

 The DG of Assam Police, Mukesh Sahay suspected hands of Naga rebel group NSCN-K in the incident.  

 According to accounts of tanker drivers who stood witness to the incident, said a group of armed tribal-looking militants waylaid the ten tankers that were carrying oil from Kharsang oil field in Arunachal Pradesh at Namsik in Jagun and forced the drivers and helpers of the vehicles out at gunpoint and set fire to the tankers pouring patrol.  

The insurgents warned that it was a consequence of plying tankers without paying ‘tax’ and next time such tankers would be burnt along with the inmates, according to tanker staff.  

The area is a stronghold of Naga rebel group NSCN-K and United Liberation Front of Assam (Independent).  

The terror-struck drivers and helpers of the tankers have demanded heavy security escort through the route in future if they were to ply crude oil-carrying tankers along it.   

They stated that there would be no movement of oil tankers along the route unless proper security escort was provided.  

Tinsukia district in eastern Assam bordering Arunachal Pradesh has been witnessing militant activities in the recent past.