Bangalore forms special squad to check petrol pilferage

Bangalore police in India has formed a special squad that will check heavy pilferage from petrol and diesel tankers. Police Superintendent D Prakash said that 15 drums, each with 200 litres of petrol were seized. Pilferers remove petrol from loaded tankers and transfer them to barrels inside the casuarinas plantation. The plantations are used as a cover for the illegal activities. “Though the amount of pilferage has come down, it has been going on unchecked with consumers getting adulterated petrol and sometimes diesel. The amount of petrol thus pilfered is replaced with white kerosene by these racketeers,” Prakash said. He added that some police personnel had been suspended because of their role in the pilferage activities: “We have suspended a sub-inspector of Hanagonda police station. We want to send a message that such a racket prevailing in the area with the strong support of some local rowdy elements will not be tolerated.” (September 2, 2011)