Petrol pumps shut down in Hisar

Deepender Deswal

Tribune News Service

Hisar, August 11

All 160 fuel stations in the district observed a strike today to protest the rising number of incidents of crime at petrol pumps.

The All Haryana Petroleum Dealers Association (AHPDA) had given the call for the strike, demanding the arrest of accused in several incidents of loot at petrol pumps. They decided to protest against police functioning after robbers took away Rs 2.65 lakh from the petrol pump in Chaudhariwas village on Wednesday.

The police reportedly remained clueless in the case even though CCTV camera footage was available to assist them in the investigation.

Six incidents of loot and firing at petrol pumps had taken place in the district in one year. The police had failed to crack any incident so far and none of the accused could be arrested.

AHPDA president Rajkumar Salemgarh said they kept petrol pumps closed to register their protest and show their solidarity. “Eight incidents of crime had occurred at petrol pumps since 2014, of which six occurred since August 2016. Not a single case has been solved,” he added.

“We have asked the police to nab the accused in the Chaudhariwas petrol pump loot by August 13, after which we will resort to another 24-hour strike. We may later decide to go on an indefinite strike,” he said.

SSP Manisha Chaudhary said three incidents (two of loot and an extortion bid) had taken place at petrol pumps in the district this year.

“We have arrested one accused in this connection so far while efforts are being made to crack other cases as well,” the SSP said.

Hisar incidents

• Rs 2.65 lakh looted from Metro Fuels in Chaudhariwas village (August 9, 2017)
• Loot attempt and firing at Haryana Filling in Balsamand village (June 18, 2017)
• Rs 5.33 lakh looted from Metro Fuels in Chaudhariwas village (February 7, 2017)
• Rs 60,000 looted from Goyal Highway Station in Muklan village (October 2016)
• Rs 40,000 looted from Goyal Highway Station in Muklan village (August 2016)
• Rs 4.13 lakh looted from Fakir Petro in Hansi (August 16, 2016)
• Attempt to loot and firing at Hariram Filling Station in Barwala (October 18, 2014)
• Rs 1 lakh looted from Metro Fuels in Chaudhariwas village (August 23, 2014)