4 held with 7,000 litres of petrol in Satkhira

Police arrested four individuals along with a tanker lorry carrying 7,000 litres of petrol from Satkhira Sadar upazila early Monday.

The arrested were identified as driver Ripon Sheikh of Khalishpur in Khulna, Shafiqul Islam, owner of Bhai Bhai Store in Bhera Bazar under Debhata upazila, Yunus Ali, owner of Aleya Oil Supply in Kulia Bazar and Yusuf Ali, proprietor of Sadia Enterprise in Badrata Bazar under Assasuni upazila.

According to police, the fuel-laden tanker, reportedly dispatched from Khulna on Sunday afternoon for delivery to a filling station in Debhata, was intercepted by local residents in Gava late Sunday night.

Locals alerted police through the national emergency helpline 999, prompting officers to seize the vehicle and detain the driver.

Satkhira Sadar Police Station officer-in-charge (OC) Masudur Rahman confirmed the detention and said that the driver failed to produce valid documents for the fuel consignment. Subsequently, the three traders were called to the police station for verification and later detained.

After consultations with executive magistrates, authorities decided to proceed with a regular case instead of a mobile court due to the seriousness of the alleged offence. However, no case had been filed as of Monday morning, with preparations underway, added the OC.

The seized tanker and the detainees remain in police custody.

In a separate drive on Monday noon, a mobile court led by Assistant Commissioner Saiful Islam sentenced Anwar Hossain Khokon to two months’ simple imprisonment and fined him Tk 5,000 for illegally storing and selling petrol, octane and diesel in the Palashpol area of Satkhira town.

MZR/AM