Illegal Fuel Trade Allegations Surface at Kheroni Depot

Karbi Anglong: A fuel depot near Zero Point in Kheroni, operated jointly by the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), has come under serious scrutiny following allegations of illegal fuel trading. Eyewitnesses reported a suspicious incident in which an Assam Oil-branded tanker was seen being filled manually from the depot’s underground storage tanks, bypassing HPCL’s standard fuel dispensing systems. The sight of a non-HPCL tanker drawing fuel from the facility has sparked widespread concern among locals, who allege the incident points to unauthorised fuel diversion, possibly linked to black market operations. Residents are questioning the unusual method of fuel transfer, done using manual pumps away from the official fueling infrastructure. “Why was an Assam Oil vehicle allowed to extract fuel from an HPCL depot? Why was it done manually? These are serious questions that demand answers,” said a local consumer rights activist. Depot staff claimed the activity was part of a routine tank maintenance procedure, but that explanation has been met with scepticism. Standard operating protocols for tank cleaning typically require official approvals and a temporary halt in sales, yet reports indicate that normal operations continued during the alleged maintenance. This is not the first time the depot has drawn public ire. Previous reports of irregularities had already tainted its reputation, and the latest incident has reignited demands for transparency and accountability. Consumer groups and local watch dogs are now urging HPCL and KAAC to launch an independent investigation into the matter. They argue that without proper oversight, the region’s fuel supply chain risks being compromised by illicit practices and regulatory violations.