Train driver likely to be grilled in oil theft case

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 8 JUNE: The Malda GRP has approached the railway authorities seeking permission to examine the driver of a train of oil tankers as part of an investigation into an oil theft case.After interrogation of three wagon breakers nabbed by local people on Friday evening near Mahananda Halt Station, the GRP has decided to examine the driver. The IC GRP Mr PK Das said: “After the incident we tried to contact the driver for examination as part of our investigation but the driver was not available. Now he is in Katihar, Bihar. We have approached the railway authorities asking that he be made available to us.” Angry local people had nabbed four persons who were stealing oil from tankers on a running train on Friday evening, although one of them later got away. They then blocked rail tracks, disrupting railway services till late at night, demanding exemplary punishment. When one of the thieves fled their clutch, the angry locals had beaten the remaining three severely and handed them over to police. Local people near Mahananda Halt station, and from areas bordering Gazole and Malda police stations, alleged that police had failed to listen to their claims of oil being stolen from the running trains. The GRP and RPF had conducted a joint raid six months ago at Mahananda halt station, but with insufficient results. Therefore, the locals had decided to take matters into their own hands.After the culprits were handed over by the locals, the GRP arrested them and started a case. The three persons, residents of Kumarganj area under Ratua police station, are still undergoing treatment in Malda district hospital. The arrested persons later disclosed that they were part of a large group who used to steal oil from running tankers on railway tracks. But they left for Delhi in search of jobs as daily labourers. Recently they returned and committed the crime again. The local people, who nabbed the three persons, alleged that a gang of wagon breakers in connivance with police and train drivers commit crimes on running goods trains. The drivers slow down the goods trains before approaching the Mahananda Bridge so that the criminals can make the thefts, they said. Police investigation later revealed that the four wagon breakers boarded the tankers at Kumarganj and removed the seal of an oil tanker to collect oil. Each of them was carrying a container of 50l.In the rural belt there is a good market for diesel, petrol and lubricants. Many people buy these product from different areas to run tractors, pump sets for irrigation, or for other purposes.