By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Nov 20: In what sounds like a scene straight out of a movie, Phensedyl cough syrups were recovered from a tanker truck, believed to be carrying fuel, which overturned on NH-6.
On November 17, information was received to the effect that a tanker truck overturned at Umtyra village, NH-06. Accordingly, an inquiry was conducted and it was found that a loaded tanker truck (NL-01-AH-2246) had gone off road and plunged into the gorge at Umtyra, NH-6.
The driver of the truck, Shakeep Sheik, a resident of Maharashtra, was found trapped inside the cabin of the truck and seriously injured. Subsequently, he was rescued and immediately shifted to Civil Hospital, Khliehriat, for medical treatment.
During preliminary inquiry, the driver of the tanker said that the tanker was loaded with diesel and the documents of the vehicle were found from the cabin. On checking the documents, the owner’s name and address were different from the e-challan App.
Furthermore, an inquiry was also conducted from the Bharat Petroleum Transport Office, where it was learnt that the said vehicle did not load fuel (diesel) from their refinery and no records of the vehicle were available at their office, thus raising suspicion.
On November 20, a search of the vehicle was conducted to ascertain the content inside the tanker and something suspicious was seen in the hidden chamber of the tanker.
The independent witnesses were called at the police station and in their presence and with the help of gas cutters, the metal sheets of the tanker were removed from the hidden chamber and Phensedyl cough syrup bottles were recovered.
A total of 4,135 100 ml Phensedyl bottles were found.
Preliminary test of the recovered items was conducted and the test gave positive for codeine. All formalities as per NDPS Act were observed and seized accordingly.