RISING CRIME incidents and assaults on petroleum dealers in the State have become a matter of serious concern. As majority of cases have remained unsolved, Bhopal Petroleum Multipurpose Dealers’ Association (BPMDA) has cautioned the State Government if culprits related to such incidents were not arrested, petroleum dealers would be compelled to discontinue night services.
Citing the example of Raisen incident where petrol pump owner Afzal was murdered after loot, BPMDA president Ajay Singh told newsmen here today that due to the apathy of police administration, the culprit could not be nabbed yet. He also alleged that the cases of looting petrol pumps take place in connivance with the police.
“In the Raisen case, the criminals looted Rs 1 lakh, a bag of coins & a rifle, killed the owner and injured the attendant on October 1, 2005.
“ We provided clue to police, despite that none has been arrested,” he decried. The association also alleged that in spite of making regular representation to the government and police, a ‘line-attached’ police official was given the responsibility of investigating into the case, without any result till date.
“If within a month, no fruitful result is found, we’ll be compelled to close down our night services,” they warned. The association members also demanded a policeman to be deputed in each petrol pump for which they expressed willingness to bear a nominal expenditure.
The BPMDA has raised the prize money from Rs 5000 to Rs 20,000 for nabbing culprits in the Raisen case. In 2005, there had been a spate of incidents of robbery, loot and assaults on petrol pumps and their workers. “We want CID’s crime branch to investigate into the incidents,” Singh said.
“If within a month, no fruitful result is found, we’ll be compelled to close down our night services,” they warned. The association members also demanded a policeman to be deputed in each petrol pump for which they expressed willingness to bear a nominal expenditure.
The BPMDA has raised the prize money from Rs 5000 to Rs 20,000 for nabbing culprits in the Raisen case. In 2005, there had been a spate of incidents of robbery, loot and assaults on petrol pumps and their workers. “We want CID’s crime branch to investigate into the incidents,” Singh said.