Meghalaya CM: No police harrasment, oil tankers call off strike

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaNovember 30, 2023

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Wednesday said there was a complete misconception that the state police were harassing oil tankers drivers.

According to him, the misconception arose after the state government had directed an inquiry into complaints received from petrol pumps about leakage of petrols.

After resolving the matter in a meeting held with the State government at Nongpoh, the oil tanker drivers and North East Petroleum Mazdoor Union (NEPMU) have called off their strike to stop supply of petroleum products to Meghalaya from November 29.

Speaking to reporters, Sangma said, “I have received a complaint from the petrol pump owners that the different tankers that were supplying petrol  to the petrol pumps that there were siphoning or leakage of the petrols in the sense of certain locations, certain tankers were taking out the petrol and siphoning it off and not give the total supply which was meant for the petrol pumps to them.”

“Based on their complaints, we went into an enquiry. Based on the inquiry, they found some evidence and some facts into this particular alleged mismanagement. Therefore, the police were not harassing anybody; it is a complete misconception. Police were only doing their duty to ensure that the goods that mean the petrol and the diesel products which were meant to come 100% supply to the petrol pumps should come,” he said.

He said the police found some evidence of the petrol being siphoned off or taken away and they took action against that adding “So maybe some of the suppliers were not happy with that particular aspect and there were some reactions in it.”

“The chief secretary has held a meeting today. They have had some discussion and I think they have come to some conclusion but we have to be very clear when there is any kind of activity like this, the police and administration will take action to ensure these kinds of activities don’t take place,” Sangma said.

According to him, whatever the police and deputy commissioner were doing, they did it in the interest of the public.

“Therefore, they were doing the correct thing and there is a misconception that police were harassing anybody but if there is an issue like that the suppliers are free to come and discuss the matter and we can also get those examined,” he assured.