GUWAHATI, May 11 - Sleuths of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) today busted an oil theft racket and arrested nine persons from New Guwahati area for their involvement.
As much as 15,000 litres of stolen diesel were also seized during the raid carried out by the CID this morning.
CID sources told The Assam Tribune that the oil theft racket used to extract oil from the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) tankers without breaking the seal and has been pumping in the same for black marketing across the State for quite some time.
The seized diesel sourced at Betkuchi was meant for the NorthEast Frontier Railway (NFR), the sources stated.
�Today�s raid was carried out when they were trying to extract diesel from an IOC tanker meant for delivery to the NF Railway.
The stolen oil was being put into drums by few persons when the sleuths caught hold of them. Based on the inputs of those arrested, a store room was also raided.
�The oil tanker was stationed near New Guwahati from where the consignment was to be handed over to NFR. We were keeping a close watch on the movement of the oil tankers for the last few days,� the sources informed.
The CID did not rule out the involvement of IOC officials in the racket, stating, �The matter is being probed and there is certainly more to it than meets the eye.�
CID has also seized the oil tanker and two auto vans.
Sources went on to add that raids were being conducted at various pockets.
