Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Feb 4: Reliable sources say that illegal transportation of petrol from the city to Lakshadweep through mini ships has been going on since long. Although transportation of highly inflammable materials like petrol by boats has been banned, the task of transporting petrol by mini ships continues to be carried out between the city and Lakshadweep, it is learnt.

It is said that an organized gang is behind this racket, and that a clerk and a lower level staff at the Bunder area have been extending tacit support for these transactions. It is gathered that these two people get commission for this illegal transportation.

Some say that they recently confiscated a few barrels of petrol, which had been lined up for being loaded onto the mini ship, as the commission due to them was not paid. A few barrels also were brought and kept in the port office, but later they were found to be empty. Sources however, say that higher officials in the port department are not aware of the involvement of their lower level employees in illegal trade. 

Since long, things of necessity are transported to Lakshadweep island through mini ships. Permission is in vogue for transporting these things to only two of the islands in Lakshadweep, whereas the consignments of petrol is being delivered to a number if islands there, sources claimed.