DULIAJAN, India An organization for unemployed youths on Monday threatened to blockade oil supplies from the oil-rich northeastern Indian state of Assam to protest alleged nepotism and irregularities in recruitment at a state oil firm.

The Thalua Nibanua Sangram Samity (TNSS), an apex body of 10,000 local unemployed youths, accuses Oil India Ltd. (OIL) of making appointments based on political pressure and nepotism rather than merit.

TNSS announced it would hold demonstrations from Wednesday before launching an indefinite blockade of roads two days later if its demands for fairer recruitment practices were ignored.

"We shall begin with a procession, followed by a hunger strike, and then resort to an indefinite oil blockade if the Oil India Ltd. authorities do not meet our demands by Friday," TNSS President Samudra Gogoi told AFP at oil's Duliajan headquarters 550 kilometers (345 miles) east of Assam's capital Guwahati.

"We shall ensure that crude oil production comes to a total halt if our demands are not met," he added.

Oil management has come under widespread criticism from residents over its recruitment methods.

"The oil authorities have flouted all recruitment norms, besides clear instances of the management indulging in nepotism and even bowing to political pressure in the entire selection process of the candidates," local legislator Rameswar Teli claimed.

"We want oil to review the list of candidates announced for recruitment immediately to avoid a bitter confrontation with the deprived and genuine youths," Teli told AFP.

Oil officials refused to comment on the controversy.

India's crude oil production stands at about 30 million tons annually, of which Assam produces about 5.15 million tons.