DHARMANAGAR, July 11 (TIWN): Whereas the whole state is suffering from acute fuel crisis, on the other hand Black-marketing spiked up at North Tripura bordering Assam-Tripura Churaibari NH-44 corridor. Demand for petrol is so high that truck drivers stealing petrol from their own tankers and selling at black market, in turn black-marketers making lakhs of cash everyday. TIWN correspondent visited Churaibari and investigated this theft on Monday. TIWN correspondent taken pictures on Monday where the local black marketers cum shop-keepers are fetching petrol from the trucks via thick pipes. TIWN spoke with few truck drivers and black-marketers and found that fuel theft at Churaibari is a daily ‘business’ as usual in front of bribe-happy authorities. The trucks which come from Guwahati stand before few shops and openly in broad day light selling fuel to the local black-marketers.

Surprisingly Police, Excise, State Govt authorities keeping their eyes closed in exchange of bribes.As per locals, it’s a very common scenario across Churaibari area and Dharmanagar subdivision.Due to this illegal diesel/ petrol theft in broad daylight on Monday at Dharmanagar, rest of the Tripura including capital Agartala reeling under severe fuel crisis as half empty tankers are carrying fuel into Tripura after selling petrol, diesel to Churaibari based black-marketers.

This is however a chain market of business where reportedly, thieves sell the fuel by the truckload. The trucks which are bearing stock of fuels inside Tripura are selling in high demand at North Tripura.

DM west Millind Ramteke although on July 9 in a meeting asked this vital question that whereas petrol tankers are regularly entering the state but why there is no sufficient supply to the consumers, in the presence of Petrol dealers, and following Tripura Police also arrested few, but at North Tripura bribe happy police, district administration fueled this petrol, diesel theft.

In the name of NH-44’s pathetic condition, theft of fuel are ruining State's fuel supply.

Allegations are coming that the black marketing of petrol-business, which are feeding a section of  CPI-M leaders, has remained unchecked since years.

Recently SDM Dharmanagar said that atleast 20 to 30 tankers are coming into state daily, and there should be no reason behind acute petrol crisis but acute petrol crisis continue unabatedly.

Assam and Tripura truck drivers are involved in fuel theft, black marketing in bordering areas and it is also emerging as an alternative lucrative business for CPI-M backed mafias.