I have heard about mixing kerosene oil with petrol, using remote control, key chain, meter tampering, etc. in petrol pumps. But this time it’s a different trick. I am solely writing this for public awareness.
Recently, I took my family for a vacation to my hometown Mokokchung. There, it happened like this: I went to fill my fuel tank to its full capacity. While parking my car, the petrol filler asked me to go farther and farther but I kept sight of the meter reading.
After sometime, the man said, “Fuel tank is full” and asked for ` 1450/- but meter reading showed around ` 1100/- and 17.60 litres. (It is to be mentioned that 17.60 ltrs. at the rate of 62.80/- is ` 1105/- only). But I just thought that meter might be a little defective and left the filling-station unsatisfied. When the fuel indicator in my car still showed far below the full capacity of the tank, I turned back to complain.
They were terrified to see me back and one who filled my tank disappeared into thin air. They readily agreed to fill my fuel tank again. The tank could still accommodate around 4 and half litres.
Remember, this is the same petrol pump which was sealed/locked by district administration after a student leader detected meter tampering last year. Now this time they are applying another trick. It goes like this. They might have waited for easy target/prey and having noticed my Kohima number plate, might have thought, “Huh! A new kid in town.” They made sure that I parked at the farthest so that meter is out of my view. Later they would quickly turn the meter to zero. At the close of the account, they might have deposited only the metered amount and the money collected by cheating shared among them.
So, next time you head for petrol pump/filling-station, Better Watch Out! You may be targeted.
Dr. M. Temjen Longkumer
Lerie colony, Kohima
