Surathkal: Covert operation stealing aviation fuel unearthed

Surathkal: An organized operation of stealing Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) from tankers was unearthed during a raid at Bala here on Monday.

Officials of the Food Department and police raided a secluded area in Bala here and unearthed the stealthy operation.

A clandestinely constructed underground tank was discovered during a raid near Bala Ottekayar turn on Monday evening. ATF was being filled from two tankers into an underground tank. To make up for the shortfall, fuel in the tanker was adulterated with kerosene.

However, the culprits behind the operation fled from the scene.

Two tankers worth Rs 40 lakhs, a pickup worth Rs 12 lakhs, a generator, drums, and about 16,000 liters of ATF were seized.