Points finger at unnamed individual accused in 2016 case
Morung Express News
Dimapur | April 21
Almost 6 years after a fuel adulteration network in Dimapur was exposed, another suspected adulteration unit has come under scanner. On April 21, a supposed truck garage, located at Ghorapatti, was exposed by the Rising People’s Party (RPP), reportedly, while in the process of mixing kerosene to petrol destined for retail outlets. The suspected unit was located in close proximity to a unit, which was sealed by the police following the ACAUT unraveling 4 suspected adulteration units in Dimapur back in June 2016.
According to the RPP, it took the initiative based on credible information. Media persons, who went to site, found two fuel trucks parked inside a walled compound and a plastic sack containing what was said to be ‘zero solvent’— a chemical believed to be added to kerosene to change the fuel’s colour tone, which is then added to petrol.
This walled compound was linked to a truck garage via a small opening, while the other side of the compound was located a chemical manufacturing unit.
The RPP alleged that the same people, accused and facing trial in the June 2016 exposé are continuing with the fuel adulteration racket. No names were disclosed but the party held that the proprietor of the garage was also one of the people accused in the June 2016 case.
As alleged by the RPP, the person running the adulteration racket, has 46 petrol pumps all over Nagaland. Fuel tankers from the refinery in Assam reportedly make a stop at the suspected site before heading to the retail outlets. It estimated that at least 4000 litres of petrol/diesel are drained out from each tanker and replaced by treated kerosene.
Speaking to the media at the site, RPP President, Joel Naga, maintained that it was not a raid but a means to attract the attention of the police to investigate.
“We have exposed, our job is done. We won’t file FIR, that’s the police’s job. Our aim is to educate the people, if the cops are serious let them file a suo moto FIR,” Joel stated.
While citing “sources,” he held that Nagaland is allocated 4,80,000 litres of kerosene per month. He alleged that, out of the total, 4 lakh litres are diverted to “certain individuals who use it to mix with fuel.”
“There are other places also but we simply wanted to show what’s happening to the Naga people,” he said, while adding that the police and the State Government are aware of it.
According to him, it is an open secret from which the Naga Political Groups, the State Government and even the civil society organizations are benefiting. Dubbing it the “goose that lays the golden egg,” he said that the unnamed person running the racket has been able to continue with impunity “because everybody is in his pocket.”
To recap, in the police investigation that followed the 2016 revelation, atleast 16 persons were arrested, while 5 persons faced trial in court.
Police informed, fails to turn up
Meanwhile, it appeared that the Dimapur police was reluctant to take up the case. According to the RPP, the police were informed at around 7:00 pm as soon as they entered the suspected adulteration site. However, the police were yet to respond and act on the information even after the lapsing of two hours.
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