NEEPCO power houses under rebel threat

Officials at the NEEPCO headquarters said the authorities have written to the Assam Chief Secretary, seeking additional security personnel.

At least 22 people, including 12 militants, have been killed in the last five days in a spurt of violent incidents. Following the killing of 12 of its cadres, the DHD(J), also known as Black Widow, asked the NEEPCO to shutdown its two power houses. It also issued threats to Railway employees and those of some business establishments.

The NEEPCO management has been in a tizzy after its employees in the N C Hills have been under attack from Black Widow militants since January.

At least eight employees of the NEEPCO have been killed by Black Widow in separate incidents since January 14, prompting the government to rush around 300 additional security personnel to the trouble-torn hill district.

The Black Widow rebels also killed four employees of a cement factory at Umrangsu in February last. The rebel group had also demanded Rs one crore from the Corporation.

A top official in the NEEPCO said fear psychosis prevailed among the corporation's 400-odd employees and efforts were on to ensure that functioning in the power houses was not disrupted as it was the peak season.

Commissioned in 1987, the hydroelectric project supplies power to Assam, Meghalaya, North Bengal and the Powergrid.