Assam: Blast at oil pipeline ahead of PM Narendra Modi's state visit; ULFA-I claims responsibility

The banned United Liberation Front of Asom - Independent (ULFA-I) outfit has claimed responsibility for a blast today at an oil pipeline at Dikom village in Dibrugarh district of Assam.

A body, which was torn into pieces, was found near the place of blast. Unconfirmed sources have claimed that the body is of ULFA (I) member Palash Asom.

Teams from Assam police and armed forces reached the spot and repair work on the pipeline is underway.

In an email sent to media houses, Arunoday Asom, the publicity secretary of the insurgent group, accepted the responsibility for the oil pipeline blast.

The Assam police issued an alert on May 24, saying that a team of ULFA (I) led by Padum Deka Rajbongshi was trying to cross over to Assam from Nagaland to carry out disruptive activities ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the state.

The sources in Assam police, however, said that the blast could be an attempt to steal oil from the pipeline.

Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the Dhola-Sadiya bridge on Brahmaputra, the longest bridge in India, on May 26. The bridge is located at a distance of 80 km from the place of the blast.

The Prime Minister will address a rally in Guwahati to celebrate the completion of three years of the NDA government and one year of Assam government. He will also lay the foundation stone of AIIMS to be set up at Changsari town in Kamrup district, which is at a distance of 30 km from Guwahati.

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