Kohima: Petrol pumps and distributors in Dimapur town closed down their business on Wednesday to protest act of three miscreants, who had snatched away keys of a dispensing unit and forcibly shut down a fuel retail outlet after threatening to blow up the petrol station.
Dimapur Petroleum Dealers’ Association (DPDA) president Hokhuli Sumi informed that three unidentified miscreants turned up at the petrol outlet located in Duncan Basti area, Circular Road of Dimapur town and demanded some money.
When the person in-charge refused to pay, the miscreants snatched the keys of the dispensing unit and ordered them to close down the depot.
The miscreants further threatened that the person’s life would be in danger and the petrol station would be burnt down if their command was not complied with.
DPDA said the shut down had been necessitated to protest against the act of unwarranted threat and also to let the public realise the problem they are constantly facing so that pressure can be generated for action.
”We have dutifully been paying the taxes or demands of the different organisations. Paying them is not a new thing; we have been giving them from before. The petrol stations in Dimapur will remain closed until the miscreants hand over the keys they snatched on Tuesday,” Sumi added.
Members of the DPDA, led by its president, also had a meeting with the Deputy Commissioner (DC) and Superintendent of Police (SP) of Dimapur.
Meanwhile, Dimapur police informed yesterday evening that the keys snatched from the fuel retail outlet has been recovered.
However, the culprits are yet to be arrested. SP Dimapur said the keys were left in one of the shops located near Dimapur District Hospital junction reportedly by an unknown person. (UNI)