The tanker, containing Aviation Turbine Fuel, used by aircraft, was stolen using duplicate ignition key.
Nagpur News: In a startling incident, five persons on Saturday stole a tanker containing Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF), used by aircraft, from Sonegaon Airport or Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport in Nagpur. Police have arrested four persons in this connection and are searching for other accomplice.
According to police, at about 1200-1430 hours on Saturday, the tanker (MH-35/K 1987) was parked on Firegate Road near office of Airports Authority of India for delivery of the fuel to Sonegaon Airport. At the same time, the accused Ramesh Shriram Panvatkar (38), resident of Beltarodi, Nagpur, Vijay Bhaiyyalal Gumgaonkar (60), resident of Nagpur, Vicky Vanvas Patil (25), resident of Vaishali Nagar, Nagpur, Narendra Nanaji Itankar (35), resident of Vaishali Nagar and Pankaj Gulabrao Thakur (35), resident of Nagpur used a duplicate ignition key and fled with the tanker with the intention of pilfering the fuel. However, soon the theft came to notice of Airport authorities and they informed Sonegaon Police Station. A hot pursuit was launched and the cops succeeded in spotting the tanker at an unidentified place. Police immediately swooped on the accused and arrested four of the accused as the fifth one managed to escape the spot.
Police have recovered a totally filled tanker ((MH-35/K 1987), an empty tanker (MH-31/CB 1312), plastic cans, two tubes, the duplicate key collectively worth Rs 20,06,100 from the possession of the accused. An offence under Sections 379, 511, 34 of the IPC and Sub Sections 3,7 of Essential Commodities Act has been registered against the accused and PSI Valadkar is probing the matter further.
The theft of ATF tanker is being viewed by concerned authorities including police as could have serious repercussions if all angles are put under consideration. Apart from theft for monetary benefits, the tanker could have been used for some explosive actions in the present volatile security situation.
File Pic
