Assam: Residents raise drone surveillance concerns in Tinsukia's Barekuri, threaten protest against Oil India over privacy breach

Residents of Barekuri in Assam's Tinsukia district have alleged that drones are being flown over the area under the pretext of inspecting Oil India Limited pipelines and that footage of women in private spaces is being captured, prompting local residents to demand an immediate discussion with the state-owned oil company.

The allegations were raised at a public meeting organised by Barekuri residents against what they described as prolonged neglect and deprivation by Oil India Limited, which has been carrying out oil exploration and extraction activities in the area since 2001-02.

According to residents, resources extracted from Barekuri were initially identified under the name of North Chandmari. They said that after several protests, Oil India renamed the resources extracted from the area as Barekuri QPS.

Residents alleged that several longstanding issues affecting the area remain unresolved and accused Oil India of failing to adequately address their concerns despite the region being identified as an Oil India-affected area.

The residents also raised concerns over what they described as inadequate development of Barekuri as a tourism destination. They alleged that despite the area's tourism potential, Oil India has not taken sufficient steps towards its development.

A public meeting was held in front of the Barekuri QPS, where residents called on Oil India Limited to hold discussions with them by September 16 and address their grievances.

The residents warned that if the company fails to engage with them by the deadline, they will launch an intensified protest against Oil India.