NOC regional chief lands in cell for petroleum theft

KATHMANDU: Chief of Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) depot at Bhalbari Nagendra Kurmi has been arrested by police for his alleged involvement in the theft of petroleum products imported by the corporation from India.

Kurmi was booked for the crime after NOC officers Rabindra Kumar Raut and Dipendra Basnyat, who are in police custody for the past five days, and drivers and helpers of the tankers, from which the petroleum products were stolen, named Kurmi during interrogation.

SP Thapa said that further investigation would reveal Kurmi’s involvement in the theft.

Police had found 19 tankers taking out diesel deceitfully during a raid conducted at two petrol pumps and two godowns at Padsari and Madauliya in Rupandehi and confiscated 17,000 litres of diesel.

Following the revelation of petroleum theft, arrest warrant was issued against 16 tanker owners.

Meanwhile, Paschimanchal Tanker Entrepreneurs Association has continued to halt the transportation of petroleum products from India demanding the release of the tanker owners who were arrested after the raid.