Port Blair, Jan. 19: On a tip off about loading of Petroleum onto a Dinghy at Brookshabad sea shore on the evening of 16^th January, for illegal transportation to other Islands, a police party of P.S. Pahargaon led by SHO Joju rushed to the spot and apprehended three persons namely K. Anmasi (42) yrs, Engine Dinghy Operator r/o Brookshabad, S. Pandi (36) yrs., r/o Anarkali and Pramod Lakra (28) r/o Kadakachang both pvt. labourers.

They were found on a boat anchored on sea shore alongwith two Pantoons & one engine dinghy with 16 nos. petrol drums containing about 3000 ltrs. of petrol and 12 nos. diesel drums containing about 2480 ltrs. of diesel. As they failed to produce any valid documents relating to storage/transporting of petroleum product, they were arrested on 18^th Jan. 2012. Investigation had revealed that the petrol & diesel were being illegally transported by Nani Gopal Das (43) yrs., Lalit Mohan Das (65) yrs. and V. Kunju (62) yrs. residents of Havelock who run business there.

Meanwhile, two persons were arrested in Havelock for illegally procuring, storing & selling of petroleum products without license. On a tip off on 17^th January the residences of Sandeep Sikdar and Naba Kumar Biswas were raided by a police party led by SHO Abita Bachan, SI Mithun Kirtonia and others and 1600 ltr. of petrol in eight drums were seized. They did not have any license. Both have been arrested under Petroleum Act 1934 & Indian Penal Code for the illegal act.

Further investigation is in progress to unearth illegal transportation, storage and sale of petroleum in the islands, the Superintendent of Police, SBS Tyagi said here in a communication.