G'hati/Dimapur, September 21: The investigating authorities of September 20 oil pilferage tragedy have alleged that Naga militant outfit NSCN-IM is spear-heading the oil pilferage racket with the help of hired people in Assam's Karbi Anglong district.

However, NSCN-IM's Ministry of Information and Publicity (MIP) has informed NNN tonight in Dimapur that the outfit does not involve in such racket.

The NSCN-IM said that "some unwanted elements" might have been using the name of the NSCN-IM to carry out such racket.

The Naga outfit is determined to find out the fact in this regard.

On the other hand, the investigators have indicated that there might be an understanding between the Naga rebels and some railway men behind the oil pilferage racket.

As per reports of the newspapers the police of Assam and Nagaland have altogether recovered 15 bodies including two bodies of NSCN-IM cadres on Saturday, from the place of occurrence and five persons had been hospitalized after a group inhaled toxic gas while attempting to pilferage oil from the running goods train.

Karbi Anglong Superintendent of police KK Sarma said, "The pilferage of oil from the railway wagons is the handiwork of the NSCN-IM.

They hire the local people of the area to do this type of work.

We are investigating and we hope to come out with some precautionary measures to thwart any such attempt in future," he said.

"It is not that the victims have done it for the first time.

We have recovered several empty drums from near the place�this indicates that the victims had planned to take out huge amount of petroleum products from the wagons and no one would dare do that in their first attempt," said police sources while adding that the police are also investigating about the probable role of local Government Railway Police (GRP) guards and the Railway Protection Force (RPF) guards behind the incident", he added.

The SP however, said that the police is planning to formulate some security tips and precautionary suggestions.

"We would give our suggestions in the next district level co-ordination committee meeting, which has representation from civic authorities and railways," he said and added that he would suggest the railway authority to move trains, carrying petroleum products, during the day time through the area.

The Saturday incident took place between Rangaphar railway station and Dhansiri, about 290 km east of Assam's main city of Guwahati.

The place is bordering Nagaland.

The freight train having 48 wagons was coming from Numaligarh Refinery station and was bound for Mugalsarai in UP.

The stationary train was carrying high speed diesel and a group tried to open the wagons.

Following which, several of them died.

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