'Smugglers cover pilferage of crude oil with chemicals' Says CID

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) conducted an operation against an oil pilferage racket at Khatkhati in Karbi Anglong district recently. According to CID sources, the racket was pilfering oil from the tankers with the help of tanker drivers, on a regular basis.

"The fuel tankers bound to Manipur and Nagaland are kept in a parking lot of Khatkhati after they arrive from Guwahati, Digboi and Numaligarh. The racket steals around 60 to 70 litres of oil from the tankers with the assistance from the tanker drivers. Later, the gang mixes reagents to cover the pilferage," the source revealed.

"After mixing the reagents, a foamy layer is formed. Usually, the respective authorities at the oil tanker's destination check the quantity of the oil by putting a measuring scale inside the tanker. Thus, the pilferage is not traced as the quantity of the oil remains the same," the source added.

"The oil pilfering gang bribes the drivers at the rate of Rs 50 for a litre of petrol, Rs 40 for a litre of diesel and anything between Rs 15 to 20 for a litre of kerosene. The stolen oil is later smuggled to other States," the source said.

Based on a tip-off, the CID arrested one of the members of the racket — Samir Kumar Gupta— on June 1. He was the manager of Pintu Parking at Khatkhati. The mastermind of the racket, Dinanath Prasad Shah, and two other members – Pintu Shah and Damodar Yadav are absconding. Along with Gupta, the sleuths have arrested six tanker drivers and also seized 18 tankers. Two oil tankers which were used as a reservoir of the pilfered petroleum products have also been seized.

The accused have been sent to judicial custody and five seized tankers have been brought to Guwahati.

In this regard, the CID has registered a case (12/2020) u/s 120 (B) / 379/411/285 IPC R/W Sec. 23 of Petroleum Act, R/W Sec. 7 of Essential Commodities Act. 

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