Kavre, March 25

Although the supply situation has normalised over the past month, black-marketing of petroleum products is on the rise in Kavre district of late.

Police have so far arrested 10 persons for black-marketing fuel in the district. On Wednesday night, police arrested two persons and confiscated a fuel tanker with 3,000 litre diesel during a security check at Khawa of Panchkhal-1 along the Araniko Highway. The tanker was carrying fuel only in one of the four inbuilt chambers.

According to police, Bhaktapur-based Surya Binayak Oil Store’s owner Madhuraj Pradhananga had sent the diesel to Panchkhal to sell it at an inflated price.

“We seized the tanker after we found that the documents were faulty,” said DSP Nabinraj Rai of Kavre District Police Office. “We’ve arrested Pradhananga as well as truck driver Panche Tamang for action,” informed DSP Rai.

Earlier, police had arrested five persons, namely Raj Kumar Shrestha, Raj Kumar Koirala, Suryalal Shrestha, Santosh Shrestha and Suman Bishukhale for their involvement in black-marketing of fuel on Monday. Among them, Raj Kuamar Shrestha is the manager of Bhaktapur-based Maheshwori Petrol Pump.

The arrestees had sold 4,000 litre diesel meant for Maheshwori fuel station to a Panauti-based plywood industry. The illegal act had come to light after police impounded the fuel tanker while it was returning from the plywood industry.

Likewise, the Kavre District Court had remanded owners of four fuel stations to judicial custody for dispensing less amount of fuel on January 3. Ugrachandi Oil Store’s owner Atmaram Thapa, Panchkhal Oil Store’s owner Basantkrishna Poudel, Mata Palanchowk Oil Sotre’s owner Rajendra Prasad Ghimire and Panauti-based Jaya Ambe Traders’ owner Binod Banjara were arrested on December 4 for dispensing less fuel than what motorists pay for.

Meanwhile, transport entrepreneurs of the district said they were buying fuel at a price higher than the market rate. An entrepreneur said they were paying up to Rs 130 per litre for diesel.