Guwahati: Tea major Hindustan Lever Ltd (HLL) will not withdraw its operations from Assam following terrorist strikes on the assurance of Chief MInister Tarun Gogoi to protect HLL interests, company sources said.

HLL Director, Plantation, S K Dhal and corporate director of Human Resource Development Gurdeep Singh met Gogoi yesterday (Nov 28) and expressed concern over the security situation following the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) rocket attack on its executive's residence in Doom Dooma, Upper Assam, on Thursday (Nov 27).

Official sources today said they also discussed the threats from the ULFA on the HLL employees and property in the State.

Sources said the Chief Minister had assured to protect HLL interests in the State, adding that three sections of Border Security Force (BSF) had already been deployed near the HLL personal products factory inside Raidang tea estate in Doom Dooma following the ULFA attack.

Gogoi also informed the HLL executives that Army patrolling had been intensified in the area and that Union Home Minister L K Advani had been requested to send additional paramilitary forces for the law and order situation in the State.

HLL's operations in the State covers 16 tea estates and the personal product factory that produces 35 per cent of the total such products produced by the company in the country.

The HLL executives also met Chief Secretary J P Rajkhowa and Director General of Police P V Sumant to discuss security measures, sources added.

Earlier in the early 1990s, HLL had suspended operations and airlifted its senior executives from the State in the wake of insurgent attacks.

PTI