IOC outlets remain shut in Punjab

A day after violence sparked off in Punjab triggered by the killing of a Dera leader in Austria, about 500 fuel outlets of public sector Indian Oil remained shut in several areas.

A day after violence sparked off in Punjab triggered by the killing of a Dera leader in Austria, about 500 fuel outlets of public sector Indian Oil remained shut in several areas.

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However, the bilateral trade through the Attari-Wagah route remained unaffected on Tuesday as importers refrained from taking the delivery of their goods due to fear of damage even as they had received customs clearance.

"Two trucks load of dry fruit lying here with us as importers are not taking the delivery of their goods. Probably they fear that mob can cause damage to their goods," Amritsar Customs Commissioner Tarkeshwar Singh said.

Cities where the retail fuel outlets were shut are Jalandhar, Phagwara, Hoshiarpur, Amritsar, Barnala, Sangrur, Faridkot, Abohar and Kotakpura.

"Following the advice of the local administration, we have kept our retail outlets at various places in Punjab closed in the wake of tension prevailing in the state," a senior official of Indian Oil said.

"Some of the petrol pumps today were opened in Ludhiana for four hours following the relaxation given by police in the curfew," he said.

The supply of fuel from IOCs terminals in Jalandhar and Sangrur was also affected as the tankers, which carry the fuel from the terminal to petrol pumps, remained off the road because of violence.