Reported by Laxman Sharma
Digboi: Digboi Police in Assam’s Tinsukia district on Tuesday busted an alleged petroleum pilferage racket and arrested a repeat offender accused of siphoning fuel from a loaded oil tanker parked inside his residential premises.
The accused, identified as Bipin Rajkhowa of Tingrai under Digboi Police Station, was arrested during a raid led by Co-District Superintendent of Police Himanshu Gohain and Officer-in-Charge Pranjal Chetia.
According to Gohain, police found an oil tanker parked inside the accused’s compound and the alleged fuel siphoning operation was in progress when the raiding team arrived.
“Our team reached the location and found the tanker stationed inside the premises. The pilferage operation was actively underway at the time of the raid,” Gohain said.
Police recovered petroleum products suspected to have been siphoned from tankers transporting fuel from the Golai AOD Terminal. Equipment allegedly used in the operation, along with empty storage containers and other materials, were seized from the site.
Investigators said Rajkhowa was allegedly caught red-handed during the operation. Police also noted that he had previously been arrested and prosecuted in a similar case involving the pilferage of petroleum products belonging to Assam Oil Division (AOD).
Preliminary investigations indicate the possible existence of an organised network involved in the theft of petroleum products from loaded tankers travelling to various inter-state destinations. Police suspect fuel may have been siphoned at multiple locations along transit routes before being diverted into illegal distribution channels.
Investigators are examining the possible involvement of tanker crew members, handlers and receivers of stolen fuel and are working to identify others linked to the alleged network.
Police are also probing whether any individuals directly or indirectly connected with the Golai Oil Terminal, including contractual workers, tanker operators or other stakeholders, may have facilitated the alleged pilferage.
A case has been registered at Digboi Police Station (Case No. 52/2026) under Sections 303(2), 112 and 317(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), read with Section 23(a) of the Petroleum Act.
Further investigation is underway to identify all those involved and trace the alleged distribution network for the pilfered fuel.