3 held for stealing transformer oil

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 13

The Chheharta police have busted a gang of thieves, who used to steal oil from transformers installed in villages. Three persons have been arrested and 13 cans of transformer oil, three rods and plastic pipes have been seized from them. Besides, a vehicle has also been impounded that was being used to take away the stolen items.

Those arrested were identified as Gaurav Sharma of Bhalla Colony, Chheharta; Kishan Chand, alias Babbu, of Khalora village, who resides in Modern Colony, Chheharta; and the owner of the house where he had been residing as tenant.

Following preliminary probe, the police registered a case under Sections 379, 411 and 34 of the IPC. They were produced in the court which sent them to a three-day police remand, said investigating officer Harjinder Kumar.

Harish Behal, SHO, Chhharta police station, said the accused had stolen oil from the transformers located on the stretch on San Sahib road to Chabal. “A 2KV transformer contains around 90 to 100 litre of insulating oil which is worth over Rs 1 lakh,” he said.

Taking away the oil also inflicts damages on the transformer, which costs around Rs 2.36 lakh. Thereby the PSPCL incurs a loss of over Rs 3 lakh with the damage of a transformer. The accused had been active for past five months. He added that further interrogation was under progress to ascertain whom did they sell it to.