Chitwan, November 24

At least four persons were arrested for their illegal trading of aviation turbine fuel in Chitwan yesterday night.

They were caught filling 1,600 litres of aviation fuel from a tanker belonging to Nepal Oil Corporation, which was en route to Sinamangal depot from Nepalgunj depot.

Nepal Police arrested them while they were dispensing the fuel to Biraj Traders, a hardware shop at Belchowk of Narayangadh, said District Police Office, Chitwan, at a press meet in Bharatpur today.

“A litre of aviation fuel costs Rs 118 at the depot, but it was being sold at Rs 100 per litre here,” said Chitwan DSP Rajan Adhikari. Police arrested tanker driver Som Lal Blon, 26, of Kakada VDC, Makawanpur, the driver’s friend Kishori Patel of Birgunj, proprietor of the hardware shop Binod Agasthi, 29, and his staff Tika Ram Baral of Parbatipur, Chitwan.

Police said the tanker, carrying 20,000 litres of aviation fuel, was taken under control and kept at DPO Chitwan. The smugglers were also trying to influence Inspector Satya Narayan Thapa of Ward Police Office Narayangadh by offering him a bribe of Rs 50,000.

According to DSP Adhikari, a case of black marketing and social crime will be lodged.