Reveals adulteration racket in the region
Kohima, August 3 (MExN): In an important move, the Kohima Police have nabbed two persons with ‘chemical solvent’ who could shed light on the logistics of adulteration in the North East region. The incident unfurled much like a potboiler.
In a press release from SDPO (South) & PRO Kohima Police, Atu Zumvü IPS, informed the sequence of events. On August 8, 8:00pm, “specific information” was received from a “reliable source” that one 12 wheeler oil tanker bearing reg. no WB-23-5019 fully loaded with chemical solvent (composed of paint thinner and turpentine) was proceeding towards Kohima from Dimapur in a CRPF convoy.
On receipt of the information, Kohima Police under the supervision of SDPO (South) Kohima conducted intensive checking to intercept the said vehicle and its occupants.
As informed, the said vehicle turned up at the Peducha check-gate, was promptly “seized” by the Police and brought to Sechü (z) police station at around 11:00 pm.
According to the statement given by the driver of the oil tanker, after loading the chemical (used for mixing with liquor) from Rudrapur Deoria (Uttar Pradesh) on July 11, he proceeded towards Khatkhati in Karbi Anglong, Assam. The Police stated that the driver reached Khatkhati on July 18 and delivered the consignment to a liquor factory based there.
Thereafter, as per the statement, while waiting for other consignments for his return journey, a person from Dimapur approached him on the afternoon of August 2. A deal was made for transporting ‘chemical solvent’ from Khatkhati to Imphal with transportation charges at the rate of Rs 2/- per liter.
According to the Police, approximately 20 thousand liters of solvent was loaded from Khatkhati to deliver to Imphal after taking the approval of the vehicle owner who is based in Kolkata.
Interestingly, the “alleged owner” of the consignment who was travelling with the consignment was also arrested along with the driver of the oil tanker. The “alleged owner” was examined and his statement allegedly revealed that he is an employee of one of the accused in the fuel adulteration racket in Dimapur. According to the Kohima Police, he also stated that he was working under him for the past five years and the actually consignment belongs to the accused.
As per his statement, revealed the Police, the chemical solvent was stuck up at Sirampur since June this year because of the ongoing fuel adulteration issue in Dimapur and it was brought to Khatkhati on July 31.
Thereafter, on August 2, after engaging the above referred oil tanker from UP and preparing a “fictitious” invoice in the name of ESSAR OIL LTD against the consignment from Dimapur, while proceeding to Imphal in a CRPF convoy, it was intercepted by Kohima Polive at Peducha check gate.
In this connection, the Kohima Police have filed a regular case vide Sechu (Zubza) P.S case No. 0020/16 U/S 471/472/474/465/467 IPC R/W U/S 23(1)(a)(b) Petroleum Act against the two persons for further investigation.
