Imphal, August 07: Along with effecting the arrest of drivers and helpers of six oil tankers who stayed away from emptying the Kerosene oil brought from Khatkhati at the Oil Depot of Chingmeirong today, FCS Minister Yumkham Erabot has given strict instruction against such conduct in future even as one of the oil tankers has reportedly gone missing.

According to information received by the press, out of the 11 kerosene loaded tankers which arrived at Imphal yesterday, drivers and helpers of some of the tankers did not turn up to empty the Kerosene at the oil depot.

Consequently, IOC authority today brought the matter to the notice of the FCS Minister.

When the Minister himself came for inspection, four oil tankers were found stationed in front of the oil depot without emptying their contents.

The Minister immediately called the police and effected the arrest of the drivers and helpers.

One of the tankers was also subsequently intercepted from Mantripukhri area while the RC Book and key of another tanker stationed in front of the oil depot without its driver have been seized.

The whereabouts of one more tanker bearing registration number MN-05/2598 is reported to be not known.

Talking to mediapersons in this connection, the Minister, while recalling the past instances of intercepting oil tankers while trying to siphon off the content, observed that the unwillingness of the oil tanker drivers and helpers to empty the kerosene brought by them at the oil depot shows that they were up to some mischief.

Efforts would be made to ensure that the oil tankers that have been intercepted today empty their content at the oil depot and the details of the drivers and the owners of the oil tankers would be noted, and in case of any mischief in future, appropriate action would be initiated against them, the Minister warned.

The Minister further informed that the due share of the APL rice would be made available to the people through their respective MLAs but the Government would not be responsible for fixing the price.

This arrangement would come into effect from the current month.

An official of the IOC informed that the oil tankers have left Khatkhati and arrived at Imphal yesterday.

As a result of the climatic variation, there is the possibility of some reduction or increase in the quantity of oil being transported from Assam when it reached Manipur.

However, how can there be any drastic reduction in the oil quantity during transit is not known, the official added.

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