Surat : Security Lapse at ONGC Hazira Plant Raises Alarm on National Security

Surat : Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), India’s largest oil producer faced a serious lapse in its security arrangements at the Ichhapore-Hazira plant in Surat on Sunday. An inebriated car driver managed to penetrate three layers of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) security and entered the ONGC plant through the main gate, raising significant concerns about national security.

The incident unfolded when Hitesh Satyanarayan Dubey, a 42-year-old resident of Vesu, drove his car straight to the Conduct Faction Unit (CFU) and the Sulfur Recovery Unit (SRU) COZON plant gate within the Hazira complex at about 2 PM on Sunday.

Unfortunately, the car’s front wheel got stuck in a pit, preventing the suspect from moving further. It was during this melee that an attentive ONGC employee noticed the car and approached, only to discover that the person inside was a complete outsider and not associated with the company.

The gravity of the situation cannot be overstated, given that ONGC has major oil producing assets along the coastline of Maharashtra and Gujarat in Western Offshore. The security officer on duty, identified as Chauhan, was immediately informed, and the CISF personnel were called in to apprehend the intruder. What is most concerning is that this audacious breach occurred in broad daylight, around 2 PM, and yet the security officers and CISF personnel failed to stop or intercept the intruding vehicle as it entered the critical plant area in Hazira.

Upon capture, the accused was handed over to the Ichhapore police station, where a case was registered under section 151 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). However, to the bewilderment of many, the accused was allowed to go after some time.

Sources at the Ichhapore police station revealed that the intruder entered the ONGC facility through its main gate and managed to reach the critical plant area before being detected. This incident highlights a serious concern about the adequacy of the security measures in place at such critical installations.

ONGC’s Hazira plant is a strategically significant location, and any security lapse raises alarming questions about the safety and protection of the nation’s vital energy assets. It underscores the urgency for a thorough investigation and immediate corrective actions to prevent similar breaches in the future.

The incident serves as a wake-up call for the security personnel and the CISF to be vigilant and ensure that stringent security measures are in place to safeguard India’s energy infrastructure from potential threats.

Despite repeated attempts to contact the senior officials at ONGC, nobody was available for comments. PA to ONGC Executive Director, Mr. Upadhyay was unaware about the incident when The Blunt Times contacted him.