Attempt to steal diesel from pipeline foiled

Around 500 litres of diesel, worth Rs 25,000, was lost due to leakage in a fuel pipeline near JNPT on Saturday morning.

Around 500 litres of diesel, worth Rs 25,000, was lost due to leakage in a fuel pipeline near JNPT on Saturday morning.

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“At 6.30 am, some people were found tampering with the pipeline that goes from JNPT to the Reliance tank station and trying to steal diesel,” said Nitin Bhosale, senior police inspector of the Nhava Sheva police station.

“The security guards raised an alarm, but the men fled. But the diesel started seeping into a nearby drain. The company officials came to the spot and sealed the leak.”

As there are no residential localities nearby, there was no chance of any accident, police said.

Police have recovered a spanner and other material used to tamper the pipeline.

Locals claimed that there had been earlier attempts to steal fuel from the pipelines in the area, but police refuted the claim.

Bhosale said: “This is the first time such an incident has taken place. We will soon catch the culprits.”