Crude oil pilferage: Additional 14,000 litres recovered; tanker seized in Digboi

CORRESPONDENT

DIGBOI: Relentless efforts of Digboi police in connecting the dots in the crude oil smuggling case have unravelled several new chapters to it following the further recovery of 14,000 litres of condensates along with a tanker and few gadgets used during the act of oil pilferage, from a private dhaba at Chabua in the Dibrugarh district.

Earlier, on March 29, Digboi Police had arrested 12 persons seized five oil tankers and a Bolero car meant for security personnel. The arrested persons were involved in the act of smuggling and oil pilferage rendering loss to the state exchequer. Interrogation and investigation started from the first day to ascertain the exect nature of the crime and the modus operandi adopted by the smugglers to steal the crude oil without breaking the seal of the lock on the tankers.

Meanwhile, despite sensational revelation by one of the accused in the case and admittance of the act of stealing the oil from the tankers in a live demonstration in the presence of a magistrate and police on Saturday morning, no serious initiatives from the Oil India Limited (OIL) authority have been initiated.

“We have filed a suo motto case to this effect to unearth the nexus involved in the act of smuggling OIL’s property,” said OC Digboi, Dibyajyoti Dutta, adding, “We are yet to receive any FIRs from the OIL authority for reasons best known to them. We would not spare anyone found involved in the racket, whosoever he or she might be. The law will take its natural course during the trail and execution of the case.”

Several top brass of the OIL management hailing from the security department, HR and Administration, during a recent meeting at the Tinsukia SP’s office with the OCs and DSPs and ASPs regarding growing oil pilferage cases, wanted the police to work out a mechanism to nab the cuprits involved. “Now when the police have done their parts, why is the OIL management maintaining total silence without having lodged an FIR from their end?” said a senior police officer of the district.

However, based on GDE No. 931 dated 30.02.2023 and case was taken up at Digboi PS Case No-57/2023, the arrested accused were prosecuted u/s 120(B)/407/420/379/ 411 IPC R/W Sec 23 Petroleum Act, R/W Sec 3 PDPP Act. The seized vehicles are under the custody of Digboi Police. Investigation was on till the filing of this report.