An active and notorious oil theft racket operating in Upper Assam has once again come under the scanner after a fire broke out at an abandoned ONGC oil well in the Nazira area, with authorities suspecting a crude oil theft angle behind the incident.
According to sources, miscreants have been targeting abandoned oil wells left behind by Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), particularly in remote tea garden areas, to illegally siphon crude oil. Taking advantage of the absence of security personnel at several such oil fields, these groups have reportedly intensified their activities in recent months.
On Thursday afternoon, miscreants allegedly set fire to an old ONGC oil well located at Bamunpukhuri Tea Estate under the Nazira Co-District. The lack of adequate security at the site is believed to have facilitated the incident, raising serious concerns over the safety of abandoned oil infrastructure in the region.
The area narrowly averted a major disaster reminiscent of the Baghjan blowout, as densely populated residential zones, including large housing colonies of tea garden workers, are situated close to the affected site.
Following the incident, teams from the Nazira Fire and Emergency Services rushed to the spot and, after sustained efforts, successfully brought the fire under control in Sectors 15 and 16. No casualties or injuries were reported.
While it remains unclear whether the fire was deliberately caused as part of an oil theft attempt or due to some other motive, officials said the exact cause would be ascertained only after a detailed police investigation.
Local residents have alleged that illegal crude oil siphoning from abandoned and concealed ONGC oil wells—especially those located within tea garden areas—has been going on for quite some time, posing a serious threat to public safety and the environment.
Demanding all-round development of the Nazira subdivision, the Nazira Subdivisional unit of Brihottar Asomiya Youva Mancha, a large numbers of people ook out a protest rally at Nazira on Thursday. Later they submitted a memorendum to the SDO(C), Nazira. In their memorendum they demanded for urgent repair of historic Dhudor Ali, Romani Ali, Bor Ali, prevention from artificial flood of Nazira town, erosion of the Dikhow river and to take necessary action to repair the foot paths of Nazira town.
64 elementary teachers of Nazira who were appointed under operation black board scheme were not paid salaries for last 19 months. While protesting on Thursday, they have destroyed the block elementary education office, Nazira. Shouting slogans against the education department, the angry teachers broken windows, doors and furniture of the office and burnt several files. Later police controlled the situation.
All Tai Ahom Student Union (ATASU) will burn the effigies of the Prime Minister, Union Tribal Affairs Minister and Chief Minister of Assam on August 26 protesting statement of the Union Tribal Affairs Minister regarding the ST Status to the Ahom, Koch Rajbanshi, Motok, Moraan, Tea Tribes and Chutia communities of Assam. Declaring it at a press meet at the ATASU office, Nazira the central general secretary of ATASU said that the they will block the rail road in every districts of Assam on August 28 and also block the Mohanbari Airport, Dibrugarh on September 2.
Nazira police arrested 3 persons namely Manasjyoti Gogoi, Niranjan Gogoi of Nazira and Depan Gogoi of Simaluguri for demanding money on last August 22 and recovered several mobile phones from them. According to the police, the three persons were involved in demanding money in the name of ULFA from various persons of Guwahati, Duliajan, Tinsukia, Digboy, Amguri etc. A police team lead by the SDPO Nazira Ashif Ahmed and OC Nazira Sanjiv Gogoi arrested them. A case is registered in Nazira police station under IPC 387.
Under the rural agricultural work experience programme of Assam Agriculture University of Jurhat an Agricultural Information Centre opened at Sundarpukhuri Kalita Gaon of Nazira on last August 19. 65 local cultivators were present in the opening ceremony.agricultural dev. Officer Ashim Saikia, exension officer Deben Saikia and students of AAU, Jorhat Monuj Gogoi, Manash Gogoi, Kanku, Bidyasagar, Nilufar, Pallavi, Anuradha, Rekha, Rashmi, Olivia, Takhpam and Kamsen attended in the programme.
Water of the Dikhow rivers is flows above the dangerious level from last few days. Continious heavy rainpour in the Naga Hill areas and in Nazira sub-division carries threat to the people of Nazira and its surrunding areas. Crops of over thousand bighas of cultivated land of Nazira, Sunpura, Cherakapar, Bokota, Nemuguri, Namti etc. and some adjacets areas are affected by this flood.
Along with the rest of the country the 67th Independence Day was observed peacefully at Nazira under the aegis of Nazira civil administration with a day-long programme. The ceremonial function was started from 8.15 in the morning at Nazira play ground. Etuwa Munda, state parliamentary secretary hoisted the National Flag at 9 AM. The event was attended by more than a thousand people at the Nazira Play Ground to salute the Tricolour and enjoy the Independence Day programme.
Different anchalik units of Krikhok Mukti Sangram Samitte (KMSS), Sivasagar district staged protest and blocked roads in different places of Sivasagar district on Monday. Raju gogoi, joint secretary of Sivasagar district committe KMSS are tortured by the Army and police and interogated him alleging maoist connection.
ONGC Assam Asset provide Rupees 32 lakh 52 thousand to Nazira Municipal Board for beautification of Nazira Gandhi Maidan Park. ONGC Assam Asset Executive Director Bimal Kumar Baruah and local MLA of Nazira jointly laid down the foundation stone of the beautification programme on last August 6. Ex.minister Dr. Hemoprova Saikia, S.D.O.(C) of Nazira Purabi Kunwar were also present in the programme alongwith other dignatories.
Japanese Encephalitis become a epidemic at Nazira sub division. Till today over 12 people of Nazira town, Nomadic, Mazenga, Gelakey, Simaluguri, Santak etc . under of Nazira sub division died due to japanese encephalitis. On the other hand a large numbers of people are hospitalized and under going treatment at AMC Dibrugarh. The concerned authorities declared that there is no supply of encephalitis vaccine at Nazira town hospital till today.The Freelance Journalist Association of Nazira submitted a memorendum to the local MLA Debabroat Saikia in this regard.
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