Stolen tanker found

VADODARA, July 18: A tanker WB-23-2343, owned by Sevani Cargo Carriers of Vadodara and reportedly stolen on July 10, from Shraddha Petrol Pump near Kapurai Chowkadi near here, was found abandoned in Kelanpur village on Saturday, the police said. No arrests have been made so far. According to Special Inspector General of Police D D Tuteja, the tanker 8212; carrying oil worth Rs 12 lakh 8212; was on its way to Calcutta when tanker driver Shekhardas Haridas Das fell ill and parked the vehicle at the petrol pump.

When Das was resting, an unidentified person approached him saying that he could take him to an hospital. Das immediately agreed and accompanied the man to the SSG Hospital from where the man slipped away.

Suspecting foul play, Das then rushed to the petrol pump without waiting for treatment and found his tanker missing. He then lodged a FIR in the Vernama police station naming the unidentified man as the accused. After the tanker was traced, Tuteja said, the police discovered that one of the vehicle8217;s wheels had been punctured and the accused had given it for repairs to a mechanic. The wheel was then recovered from the mechanic8217;s shop, refitted it to the vehicle and then driven back to the Vernama Police Station.