Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, May 3: During their investigation, the policemen have discovered that an employee of a petroleum company was involved with the theft of petroleum products from the underground pipeline at Parenki village in Beltangady taluk, which was unearthed on the night of Monday April 26.

Indian Oil Company has hired ‘Line-walkers’ to keep a watch on the pipelines that are embedded 10 feet deep under the earth, for pumping oil from the city to Bangalore. One of the line-walkers, Yashodhara, used to keep the racket involved with the theft of petrol and diesel, informed about the timing of the oil pumping routine. As the man expected to guard the pipeline himself helped the thieves, the theft could not be detected immediately, said Dakshina Kannada in-charge superintendent of police, R Ramesh.

The policemen had arrested a few accused along with vehicles and other materials on April 26. On the basis of information given by them, other members of the racket, Sunil Shetty, Harish and Srikanat Poojary were arrested. The policemen, who have now collected the information about the involvement of Yashodhara, are making efforts to trace and arrest him.