India region asks for oil: strike causes fuel crisis

India's troubled oil-producing state of Assam appealed to the government Wednesday for emergency oil supplies to head off a fuel crisis caused by strikes. Shortages have become severe since Assamese oil workers struck three days ago in support of a mass campaign to drive thousands of immigrant workers from Nepal, Bangladesh, and Bengal out of the state.Hundreds of people were arrested as mass picketing of government offices and banks went into its second day but no violence was reported.