No let-up in oil theft from pipelines

About 200 of 485 suspects in 113 cases at large

FAISALABAD:

Incidents of theft of oil from main pipelines by installing clamps continue to be reported frequently in the district.

According to sources, 113 cases of oil theft have been registered in different police stations during the last five years, in which 485 people were suspected of being involved. Police arrested 285 of them while 200 are still at large. There has been no progress in 19 of the registered cases.

Higher officials have appointed deputy superintendents of police (DSPs) as investigation officers of 69 cases.

It is estimated that oil worth Rs10 billion has been stolen from Parco's pipelines since 2015, but the officials concerned have yet to completely overcome the problem.

As many as 14 station house officers (SHOs) of Faisalabad police are among 37 employees facing inquiries regarding the theft but the oil firm does not appear to suspect the involvement of its employees in the cases.

A meeting was also reportedly held over the issue.

During the past five years, one case of oil theft was registered in Gulberg police station, 16 in Nishatabad, 21 in Millat Town, four in Chak Jhumra, 37 in Thikriwala, 16 in Sandal Bar, seven in Kharrianwala and 11 in Balochni police station.

Despite the arrest of 285 suspects in the cases, 200 remain at large, due to which incidents of oil theft could not be stopped.

Regional Police Officer (RPO) Rifat Mukhtar Raja said while talking to The Express Tribune that he was striving to solve the oil theft cases as soon as possible and no lenience would be shown to any element involved in them.

Sources said it was easy to steal oil within the limits of various police stations from where the pipelines pass. They said the people involved in the crime rented houses in the areas and stored stolen oil after digging wells for the purpose before selling it in Kharrianwala, Sheikhupura, Nishatabad, Chak Jhumra and different city areas.

In a fresh development, the RPO visited Parco Station Headquarters Gutti. City Police Officer Faisalabad Capt (retd) Sohail Chaudhry, SSP Operation Syed Ali Raza Bukhari and all the investigating DSPs were also present on the occasion.

The RPO visited various sections of the depot.

On the occasion, Station Commander Ejaz Hameed gave a detailed briefing to the RPO on fuel supply, storage, distribution and patrolling system with technical details. The RPO said coordination between Parco and the police was necessary to nab the mafia involved in oil theft. He said that patrolling system should be made effective and checkpoints set up.

Police sources said the names of the personnel facing inquiry on suspicion of backing the accused were mentioned during their interrogation.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 19^th, 2020.