Eight Diesel Drums Recovered

In a significant recovery operation, police in Ramgati under Lakshmipur district have seized eight abandoned drums containing a large quantity of diesel from a canal near the Alexander Fish Landing Station. The discovery, made late on Tuesday night (31 March), has raised suspicions of illegal fuel storage or possible smuggling activity in the coastal region.

According to law enforcement officials, the operation was launched following confidential intelligence suggesting suspicious activity in the area adjacent to the busy fish landing station. Acting swiftly on the tip-off, a team from Ramgati Police Station conducted a search along the canal embankment and surrounding waters. During the search, officers identified several large plastic drums submerged and partially concealed beneath water and silt.

With assistance from local residents, police recovered all eight drums from the canal. Upon inspection, the containers were found to be filled with diesel fuel, estimated at approximately 1,300 litres in total. The drums were subsequently transported to the police station for further examination and safekeeping.

Authorities have not yet determined who placed the fuel in the canal or the purpose behind its concealment. However, preliminary assessments suggest that the diesel may have been stored illegally, possibly for smuggling, black-market distribution, or evasion of regulatory controls on fuel storage and transport.

The Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Ramgati Police Station stated that the incident is being treated with high priority. He confirmed that investigative efforts are underway to identify those responsible and uncover any wider network that may be involved. Police are also examining nearby surveillance possibilities and gathering local intelligence to trace the origin of the fuel.

A general diary (GD) entry has been filed in connection with the recovery, and further legal steps will be taken as the investigation progresses.

Seized Fuel Details

Local residents have expressed concern over the incident, noting that the area is frequently used for fishing activities and transport movement. The presence of such a large quantity of fuel hidden in public waterways has raised questions about safety risks, environmental impact, and the possibility of organised illicit operations in the coastal belt.

Police have assured that surveillance in the area will be intensified and that all necessary measures will be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.