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| India4u News | |
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World News
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by_emR3 SaVSaK.CoM
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Posted online: Monday, January 16, 2006 at 2:37:17 PM
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Separatists blew up a crude oil pipeline in Assam ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's two-day visit to the state beginning Monday, officials said.
Suspected militants of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) late Sunday triggered a powerful explosion on the oil pipeline near village Palasguri in the western Chirang district, about 220 km from here, a police spokesman said.
"The pipeline belonging to the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) was damaged in the blast and two fire tenders fought for nearly an hour to bring the blaze under control," police official A. Das told IANS.
The district magistrate of Chirang, Jiten Borgoyari, said the blast was suspected to be carried out by the ULFA to make their presence felt ahead of the prime minister's visit.
The ULFA is yet to claim responsibility for the explosion.
Supply of crude oil to the Bongaigaion refinery in western Assam was disrupted due to the blast although restoration works were on, an IOC official said. Army soldiers late Sunday recovered at least five kg of explosives in the eastern district of Tinsukia.
The prime minister is visiting Assam to launch a series of development projects in the state, besides laying the foundation stone of a Rs.30 billion, 500 MW thermal power plant at western Assam's Salakati -- close to the site of Sunday night's blast.
"Security forces have been put on high alert across the state in view of the blast and the prime minister's visit," Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi told IANS.
The prime minister has earlier said he was ready to discuss "all issues relating to the ULFA".
"We are expecting the prime minister to make certain bold statements to solve the ULFA problem soon," the chief minister said.
The prime minister is to inaugurate a sports complex, lay the foundation stone of an open university in the city, besides addressing a Congress party workers meeting.
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