Oil firm detects theft from pipeline, lodges FIR in Buxar
Buxar:
Indian Oil Corporation
(IOC) officials on Thursday lodged an FIR against unidentified persons for oil theft from the IOC's Barauni-Kanpur pipeline at Nuawan village under Krishna Brahm police station area of Buxar district.
Krishna Brahm SHO Chanchal Kumar said, "We have received a complaint regarding the oil theft and initiated an investigation into the matter. Charges have been filed under the Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines Act, Explosives Act, Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, and the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code."
According to Indian Oil engineer, Vishal Kumar, the illegal activity came to light during a routine inspection on June 16 around 7.30am.
Security guard Pramod Kumar observed signs of fresh excavation and disturbed soil above the pipeline, and promptly alerted the authorities. A joint team from Indian Oil and the local police reached the spot and found that a 2-inch illegal valve had been installed on the pipeline for stealing oil, resulting in the leakage.
"This act not only damaged national infrastructure, but also posed a serious safety hazard due to the highly flammable nature of the product," said Kumar, adding that the disruption in supply triggered a temporary fuel crisis in the surrounding areas.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
28 minutes ago
- News18
'No Leniency In POCSO Cases': Chhattisgarh HC Upholds 20-Year Jail Term For Minor's Gangrape
Last Updated: Citing SC precedents, the high court said a rape survivor's statement, especially sexual assault cases concerning children, need not be corroborated if it inspires confidence The Chhattisgarh High Court upheld the conviction and 20-year jail term to three men for the gangrape of a 13-year-old girl during a wedding celebration in Kondagaon district. The bench of Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Bibhu Datta Guru dismissed their appeals, observing that the trial court had rightly convicted them under Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. 'Any act of sexual assault or sexual harassment to the children should be viewed very seriously and all such offences of sexual assault, sexual harassment on the children have to be dealt with in a stringent manner and no leniency should be shown to a person who has committed the offence under the POCSO Act," the division bench wrote in a headnote to the judgment. The incident took place on April 26, 2019, when the girl and her friend stepped out of a crowded wedding venue in Makdi village to go to a nearby field. The survivor testified that four men dragged her away and took turns to rape her while keeping her friend restrained. She later identified the accused – residents of nearby villages. She had seen their faces in the light from their mobile phones, and was also helped by residents of Ambal village from where the groom's party was visiting. The day after the crime, she lodged a complaint with the Kondagaon police and, based on her statement, a case was registered under Sections 376D and 506 of the Indian Penal Code along with relevant sections of the POCSO Act. The minor's testimony was consistent and detailed. She clearly described the attack and identified the accused. Her medical report showed a torn hymen and vaginal injuries. Forensic tests determined semen stains on her underwear and the undergarments of the accused. Doctors confirmed that all three accused were capable of sexual activity and fresh injuries were noted on two of them. The defence, however, argued that the case was built solely from the girl's version, pointing to alleged contradictions and claiming false implication. It questioned the absence of immediate corroboration, lack of injuries on the accused, and challenged the method used to determine the girl's age. But the court was not convinced by these arguments. Referring to school admission records, the court held that the girl was 13 years old at the time of the incident, with the case attracting the POCSO provisions. The defence had offered no proof to rebut this. Citing Supreme Court precedents, the high court said a rape survivor's statement, especially sexual assault cases concerning children, need not be corroborated if it inspires confidence. 'A girl or a woman in the tradition bound non-permissive society of India would be extremely reluctant even to admit that any incident which is likely to reflect on her chastity had ever occurred," the court observed. It added: 'She would be conscious of the danger of being ostracised by society and when in the face of these factors the crime is brought to light, there is inbuilt assurance that the charge is genuine rather than fabricated." Calling such crimes 'a degradation not only of the body but also of the soul", the court said there was no reason to interfere with the lower court's findings. The conviction is supported by consistent eyewitness testimony, medical findings, forensic confirmation, and absence of any credible defence, the bench said while dismissing the appeals. First Published: June 19, 2025, 23:24 IST
The Hindu
2 hours ago
- The Hindu
Devise framework for rehabilitation of survivors of industrial accidents in Tamil Nadu: Madras High Court
Taking a serious view of frequent fire accidents in fireworks units in Virudhunagar district, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has asked the State to evolve a structured rehabilitation framework for victims families, including educational support for children, widow pension, and housing security, so as to address the long-term impact of such tragedies. Justice B. Pugalendhi observed that the repeated pattern of accidents — 131 deaths and 146 serious injuries between 2019 and 2023 in the region — only suggested a chronic absence of inspection, enforcement, and accountability. The regulatory bodies, despite having knowledge of the hazardous nature of the work and the vulnerability of the workers, had failed to discharge their obligation under Article 21 of the Constitution to protect the right to life of citizens working in high-risk industries. This lapse cannot be termed accidental. It is structural and ongoing. The court observed manufacture, possession, and sale of fireworks were regulated under the Explosives Act, 1884, and the Explosives Rules, 2008. The District Magistrate or the District Revenue Officer was empowered to issue licences only where the total quantity of explosives, including raw materials, processed material, and finished goods, did not exceed 15 kg at a time. Quantities ranging from 15 kg to 500 kg fell under the jurisdiction of the Controller of Explosives and those above 500 kg under the Chief Controller of Explosives. However, it had come to light that the DROs had issued licences beyond their jurisdiction. Such licences were patently invalid, the court observed. Sivakasi, known as the 'fireworks capital of India', contributed over 90% of the country's production. Its dry climate, minimal rainfall, and humidity made it ideal for fireworks, but the conditions heightened the risk of explosions. Virudhunagar district was classified as an Aspirational District by NITI Aayog, reflecting persistent underdevelopment. The area suffered from critical groundwater scarcity, negligible agricultural activity, and limited industrial diversification. Workers had no alternative but to work in these dangerous factories, fully aware of the risks. These were not choices made freely, but under compulsion of survival, the court observed. According to the judge, there is widespread non-compliance and endangerment of lives. Whenever an accident occurs, investigations into such accidents are conducted in a mechanical fashion. The FIRs registered in 2019 and 2020 remain pending in 2024. There is no engagement of explosive experts, no forensic reports, and no meaningful determination of the cause. The report of a committee, headed by retired judge K. Kannan, formed by the National Green Tribunal to look into the cause of Achankulam accident in Sivakasi, found subleasing of licensed premises, overcrowding, untrained workers, chemical mixing in open areas, and locked exits as major causes of the blast. The cumulative effect of illegal licensing, absence of safety measures, ineffective inspections, and casual investigations point to a breach of Article 21. The State is liable for failure to protect life in hazardous employment. The court was hearing the petition filed by four Scheduled Caste women who lost their husbands in a fire accident at a fireworks unit in Ettakkapatti in Sivakasi in 2014. Though ₹5 lakh to each of the victims was recommended, the government in 2015 sanctioned only ₹1 lakh as ex gratia compensation. The petitioners sought the release of the balance amount and a suitable employment to a family member each. The court enhanced the compensation amount to ₹10 lakh each and directed the State to pay the compensation amount in eight weeks. Pointing out the reasons, the court observed the deceased were engaged in the fireworks industry, which was not only classified as a 'hazardous occupation', but also regulated as a dangerous operation. The workers were allowed to operate in unprotected environments, with no formal training, no protective gear, and no regulated safeguards. The working conditions made accidents not just probable but inevitable. The court pointed to the failure of the State in discharging its Statutory and Constitutional duties. The court also referred to the Supreme Court judgment in Safai Karamchari Andolan to enhance the compensation. The victims' families were from socially and economically weaker sections, with dependent children and no sustainable alternative income. The effect of the accident was not only immediate but perpetual, warranting compensation that reflected both the economic and human dimension of the loss. The State could not escape responsibility where its agencies had failed to prevent an accident in a dangerous industry. The award of compensation was not penal but declaratory of the constitutional breach, and ₹10 lakh per family was a fair, just, and proportionate recognition of the same, the court observed. The judge directed the Director of Industrial Safety and Health to ensure enforcement of safety norms under the Explosives Act and the Explosives Rules, the Factories Act and the Factories Rules, including compliance with the licensing limits, mandatory appointment of safety personnel, periodic inspections, and safety training. The safety of workers in hazardous industries should be treated as a matter of utmost priority. The Chief Controller of Explosives, PESO, Nagpur, shall take necessary steps to scrutinise the licensing practices in Sivakasi and other firework clusters and take appropriate action wherever licences were found to be issued in excess of the legal limits prescribed under the Explosives Act and Rules, the court directed. The Director General of Police must ensure fire accidents involving explosives are investigated by personnel equipped with adequate technical knowledge, with due assistance from forensic experts and in accordance with the mandates of the Explosives Act. Severe understaffing in the Industrial Safety and Health Department made it nearly impossible to conduct regular inspections, enforce statutory safety measures or respond in time to violations. Without adequate technical personnel and supervisory infrastructure, compliance could not be expected. The judged expressed clear expectation that in cases where it was established, upon enquiry or investigation, that the accident occurred due to fault of the employer, including non-compliance with the licensing conditions, safety protocols or subleasing of premises, the licensing authority should take appropriate action, including cancellation of the licence. The responsibility to regulate hazardous industries was statutory, not discretionary.
Indian Express
5 hours ago
- Indian Express
Tripura man sentenced to 20 years in jail for raping minor stepdaughter
A Tripura court on Wednesday handed out 20 years' imprisonment to a man who raped his minor stepdaughter. He was also ordered to pay a penalty of Rs 5,000, failing which he will have to serve an additional jail term of two months. Government counsel Ashmita Banik said the incident occurred in West Tripura district in August 2023. 'Though her mother was supposed to support her in this condition, she fled with her (rape-survivor's) stepfather. The minor's elder sister, who lives in South Tripura district, came to know about the incident and filed a complaint,' said the counsel. The minor rape survivor is living at a shelter home. Her stepfather was found guilty by the court under section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act and Indian Penal Code sections 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation). The court examined 19 witnesses during the trial. The court also ordered that the rape survivor be paid compensation under section 357 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
