Bhuj, July 2 (IANS) The State Monitoring Cell (SMC) of Gujarat Police has uncovered an alleged oil theft operation in Kutch district, seizing six tankers, more than two lakh kg of oil and equipment collectively valued at Rs 4.34 crore.

Eleven people have been arrested, while five others have been named as wanted in the case.

The raid was carried out on Thursday at an open ground in the Ratadiya (Ganeshvala) farmland area near Mundra.

The site is located on the left side of the highway leading from Mokha Toll Plaza towards Mundra, next to Shivam Hotel and beneath the 66 kV Patri-Mundra Line No. 52.

A case has been registered at Pragpar Police Station under Sections 303(2), 306, 316(3), 317(1)(2), 61(2) and 111(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

Police said the seizure included six tankers valued at Rs 1.5 crore, 2,05,170 kg of oil loaded in the tankers worth more than Rs 2.81 crore and 1,465 kg of allegedly stolen oil valued at around Rs 1.78 lakh.

Officers also recovered 10 mobile phones, a Hero Splendor motorcycle, 50 plastic barrels, three metal barrels, 72 plastic carboys, an electronic weighing scale, an electric motor with pipes, plastic buckets, iron loading pipes, an electric board with service wire, oil leakage stoppers, an iron valve, a barrel-lock wrench and consignment notes and vehicle documents relating to the six tankers.

The total value of the seized property was estimated at Rs 4,34,52,635.

Those arrested include labourers allegedly employed by a man identified as Gafurbhai, tanker drivers and a driver’s assistant.

According to the police, the accused are residents or natives of Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Rajasthan and Bihar.

They have been handed over to Pragpar Police Station for further investigation.

Police have identified five people as wanted in the case: Abdul Gafurbhai Ahmed Halepotra of Adipur in Kutch district, Pankajbhai of Anjar, Dhruvarajsinh Jethva of Anjar, Gopalbhai Gadhvi of Vovar village in Mundra taluka and Harbhambhai Rabari of Bhimasar.

Police said further investigation is underway to establish the full extent of the alleged oil theft network and the role of the wanted accused.

–IANS

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