Police have arrested a fuel station operator in Saptari in connection to the theft of a fuel truck and 16,000 litres of diesel.

The fuel tanker, heading to Nepal Oil Corporation’s Biratnagar oil depot from Amlekhgunj oil depot, was allegedly stolen on Saturday from a fuel station in Kanchanrup Municipality-9 in Saptari district.

Binod Bhujel, the driver of the tanker, had parked the vehicle at the petrol pump and left for his home to sleep.

According to the police, an investigation into the case revealed that the heist was planned and carried out by the vehicle’s former driver Nawaraj Bhujel and another driver, Anil Chaudhary.

The duo stole the fuel truck and unloaded fuel at the Dilip Traders Petrol Pump in Jandaul village and the Shambhunath Municipality-based Bhandar Oil Store, and left the truck at the Khairbaina forest in the municipality, police said.

The incident came to light after locals informed the police about a stranded fuel truck at the entrance of the Khairbana jungle in Shambhunath Municipality-2 on Sunday morning.

Police have arrested one Shyam Kumar Shah, an employee at the Bhandar Oil Store, in connection to the incident while a search is underway for the other accused.

According to Deputy Superintendent of Police Ram Kumar Yadav, 16,000 litres of diesel was stolen from the fuel carrier that was carrying 20,000 litres of diesel. The stolen fuel was found to be distributed between two Saptari-based petrol pumps.

Further investigation is underway, informed Yadav.