Guwahati, Feb. 14: Fear-stricken workers of the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (Neepco) today agreed to resume work at Umrangsu in North Cachar Hills district after the state government deployed additional forces to escort the employees and assured them of foolproof security at the project site.

The power distribution network of the 275MW project was defunct since Monday evening, as none of the employees dared to venture out to repair the damage, after the Gorlosa faction of the Dima Halam Daogah (DHD) attacked a convoy of Neepco employees, killing four security guards.

A wary Neepco management had on Tuesday moved Delhi for special security arrangements at its power project, which had been under attack from the militant group since January.

Dispur today moved an additional company of Assam Police commando to escort the employees to the project site from their quarters. It also assured adequate security at the project site as well as at the residential colony of the employees, 20km from the power unit.

A high-level meeting between the Neepco officials and the state government was also held at Umrangsu this afternoon to take stock of the security scenario. Sources in Neepco said after getting the assurance of security from the state government, the officials of the company persuaded its workers to resume work.

Barak Valley commissioner Sasadhar Nath said the entire route from the Neepco colony to the project site was sensitised. He, however, refused to divulge the details. But it is learnt that the Neepco has been asked to procure bullet-proof vehicles to ferry its employees to the project site.

The Neepco officials said the unit would start generating power within a day or two. The shutdown of the unit has severely affected power supply in the state with the state recording a shortfall of 200MW.

The Umrangsu project has been generating 175 MW of electricity.