Police in Rawalpindi have arrested three men for allegedly stealing crude oil from the main supply line of Pakistan Oilfields Limited (POL) by digging an underground tunnel near Ranyal, police said. The suspects were identified as Muhammad Mumtaz, Shaukat and Muhammad Akram, and a case has been registered for further investigation.
How the alleged theft was carried out
According to police, the suspects rented a house close to the POL main supply line and installed an underground pipeline stretching 181 feet. The first information report (FIR), the formal police record of a case, says a pipe was fitted to the high-pressure supply line using a clamp. Police recovered 1,431 litres of crude oil from an underground tank at the house.
The FIR was registered on the complaint of POL Senior Executive Admin Shahid Ahmed. It alleges that a total of 1,100 barrels of crude oil were stolen from the main supply line, and it puts the value of the stolen oil at more than Rs23.2 million. The barrel figure and the litres recovered are given in different units, and the police account does not explain how the two relate.
Others named in the case
The FIR also names Shah Muhammad, Sajid, Akhtar, Hafizur Rehman and Zahid, who were allegedly involved as caretakers of the house. These five are named as alleged participants, and the allegations have not yet been tested in court.
What happens next
Police have registered a case and started further investigation. The inquiry will determine whether the allegations against the three arrested men and the five named caretakers hold up.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Rawalpindi ke qareeb Ranyal mein police ne kaha hai ke teen afraad ko POL ki main supply line se tel chori karne ke shak mein giraftar kiya gaya hai. Ye chori zer-e-zameen pipeline ke zariye ki gayi thi, aur police ne ghar se 1,431 litre crude oil baramad kiya. FIR ke mutabiq chori shuda tel ki qeemat Rs23.2 million se zyada bataayi gayi hai. Aam shehri ke liye ye yaad dihani hai ke fuel ki pipelines ki hifazat kitni ahem hai, aur tahqiqaat abhi jari hain.
