The Tribune, January 29, 2005

Petrol station robbed twice in 3 days
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, January 28
Two armed motorcycle-borne youths reportedly looted a petrol station on the GT Road, near Bhigan village, about 10 km from here last night. According to the police the youths arrived on a motorcycle and forced their way into the petrol station where they, at pistol-point, snatched the cash bag containing Rs 9,000 from the salesman and fled.

The salesman immediately informed the Murthal police station about the incident. The police arrived on the scene and inspected the site of incident. A hunt was launched to apprehend them but failed to arrest them. A case was registered against them and further investigations were in progress. This was the second such incident on this petrol station during the past three days, which has caused a panic among the petrol pump owners.

It is stated that a security guard was deputed by the police on this station and he had gone to a nearby dhaba at the time of the incident. Widespread resentment prevails among the truck operators passing through the National Highway No. 1 against the unauthorised recovery of the money by the Private Assistant (PA) of the District Transport Officer (DTO). The police revealed that the said PA hauled up a truck driver and demanded Rs 2,000 from him as a bribe. But he expressed his inability to fulfil the demand. Thereupon, the truck driver gave the mobilephone number of his owner to him and the PA then demanded this money from the owner.The truck owner made a complaint to the DTO, who started an inquiry, and found his PA guilty of such collections.