Dimapur Police appeals citizens to cooperate
Dimapur, October 2 (MExN): The Special Investigation Team (SIT) set up to look into the fuel adulteration issue brewing in Nagaland State has arrested a total of 16 persons so far in connection with the case, and is interrogating all individuals connected to the case.
The SIT, formed in the wake of growing public demands for investigation into the matter, has collected a total of 73 samples from “sealed sites” and has dispatched them to Forensic Science Labs. Reports of few have been received.
During investigation, the SIT has also been able to trace the SK Oil found in these sites to “certain agencies” located across the State; necessary investigation on the matter is still underway. The origins of the solvents used for the fuel adulteration have also, reportedly, been traced to various petro chemical firms within and outside Nagaland State. Investigation on this matter is also underway.
These details were made known today through a detailed Press Note from the Additional Dy. Commissioner of Police/PRO, Dimapur, on behalf of the Office of the Commisioner of Police, Dimapur, Government of Nagaland.
It reassured the public that the SIT has “progressed” with the case investigations “keeping the interest of the public sentiments at large and, with time, it is hopeful that justice will be done.” While noting that “considerable efforts and time has been dedicated for the case investigations and it continues to do so,” the Dimapur Police appealed to citizens to “co-operate and refrain from making unilateral conclusions while the matter is still under investigation.”
The clarification was made in the light of “allegations” made by the ‘Co-ordination Committee of Civil Society Organization on Fuel Adulteration’.
As the case unfurled
The Dimapur Police stated that on June 27 this year, members of ACAUT Nagaland had reported fuel adulteration “operations” at six sites to the Dimapur district administration and police. Accordingly, informed their Press Note, the places were “raided” and “huge quantities of Hydro Carbons were seized from these sites which were found illegally stored and allegedly used for fuel adulteration.”
The hydrocarbons and the premises were “sealed in the interest of the investigation.” Two cases were registered at the West Police Station and Diphupur Police Station respectively. On July 2 this year, informed the Dimapur Police, the investigating team visited the sites to “draw samples” of the hydrocarbons “when it was observed that in two of the sites, seals were found breached and some quantities of Hydro Carbons had been drawn discreetly in an effort to destroy evidences.”
Subsequently, a third case was registered at the West Police Station and five persons were arrested in connection to the incident. The arrested persons were remanded to police custody “till the furthest period.”
The investigation team then reportedly observed that the seizure memo was “drawn assessing the quantities of hydrocarbons based on the storage capacities of the containers, acoustic response elicited after banging on the tankers and not as per the quantities actually prese
According to the Dimapur Police, the officer responsible for the seizure and sealing of the site in question has been “subjected to departmental enquiry.” The concerned duty personnel placed on guard of the sites were also “taken to task for dereliction of duties.” However, the Dimapur Police clarified that the said incident has “not in anyway” affected the investigation of the main case and, the “few quantities” of hydrocarbons “pilfered” from the site are “likely to be recovered.”
Meanwhile, in connection to the case registered at the Diphupar Police Station, the “re-assessment of the seized items in the sealed premises was necessitated owning to the non-quantified seizure list made initially,” stated the Dimapur Police. The re-assessment was conducted with the permission of the Court in the presence of a Magistrate observing “all due legal procedure.” The re-drawn seizure memo was submitted to the Court and the same was taken into cognizance.
The release of the eight empty oil tankers has been done “in compliance of the Orders of the Court,” clarified the Police.
It also informed that the SIT filed at least six petitions at different dates against different accused persons in the Court through the office of the Public Prosecutor for the cancellation of their anticipatory bails. However, “these matters are the discretion of the Court,” the Dimapur Police reminded.
“The demands for the ‘re-arrest’ of the accused persons are not permissible unless the Court cancels the bails granted,” it reiterated.
