ONGC decides to raise its own security force in Assam, Tripura

Public sector oil giant Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) is set to raise its own security force to protect its installations in sensitive states like Assam and Tripura. This would lead to withdrawal of the Central

Industrial Security Force (CISF) from its installations.

‘‘We will soon sign MoUs with different state governments, including Assam, to raise our own security agency,’’ said ONGC Chairman-cum-Managing Director Subir Raha, who toured the region recently to mark the 40th anniversary of ONGC’s first oil well in Assam.

Raha said the ONGC had initially placed a proposal to the Centre to raise its own ‘‘independent and exclusive’’ security agency. ‘‘The government, however, struck that (proposal) down. Now, we are approaching the respective states, where we have operations, to permit us to raise our security agencies,’’ he added.