The case deals with the event of kidnapping of the general manager of Indian Oil Corporation's Guwahati Refinery in 1990, the accompanying effect on the Company, and the actions required by the Company. The case focuses on how the external political and economic environment that affects a company and what kind of communication strategy and actions the company would have to adopt to overcome the immediate crisis and an on-going situation -- how does a company operate in a hostile local environment? The case also focuses on the steps the company has to take in such a situation so as to win the good will of the locales.