Fuel station manager shot dead in UP's Bulandshahr for refusing to petrol in bottle

MEERUT: A petrol pump manager at Sikandrabad-Jewar highway gas station in UP's Bulandshahr was allegedly shot dead by two unidentified men on a bike late on Wednesday night after he refused to dispense petrol in a bottle, citing govt regulations.
Arun Sharma, a staffer at the petrol pump who witnessed the incident, said, "After filling the tank with petrol worth Rs 200, the two men asked the salesman to put some fuel in a bottle. He refused and directed them to the manager. Seated inside a cabin, manager Raju Sharma, 30, explained to them that he could not comply with their request due to legal restrictions, but they continued to argue with him."
Sharma said, "Suddenly, they became aggressive and one of them pulled out a gun and opened fire at Raju. Four bullets hit his chest and arms, and he later died in hospital."
Bulandshahr SSP Shlok Kumar said the attackers have been identified and efforts are on to nab them. A case of murder has been registered, Kumar said.
Raju is survived by his wife and a seven-year-old daughter.
Notably, under the Petroleum Rules 2002, dispensing petrol in bottles or non-standard containers such as plastic or glass is prohibited, which may attract penalties on the petrol pump and may lead to cancellation of the licence for repeat offenders.
Similar confrontations over demands for filling fuel in bottles or containers were reported in Bulandshahr and its neighbouring areas in the past. "Fuel pumps in rural regions face substantial security challenges owing to insufficient police surveillance. Locals frequently engage in altercations with the staff when refused fuel in containers or for not wearing a helmet. Sometimes such matters escalate, putting the fuel station staffers' lives at risk," said Vinay Kumar Sharma, secretary of UP petrol pump trader's association.
Meerut: A petrol pump manager at Sikandrabad-Jewar highway gas station in UP's Bulandshahr was allegedly shot dead by two unidentified men on a bike late on Wednesday night after he refused to dispense petrol in a bottle, citing govt regulations.
Arun Sharma, a staffer at the petrol pump who witnessed the incident, said, "After filling the tank with petrol worth Rs 200, the two men asked the salesman to put some fuel in a bottle. He refused and directed them to the manager. Seated inside a cabin, manager Raju Sharma, 30, explained to them that he could not comply with their request due to legal restrictions, but they continued to argue with him."
Sharma said, "Suddenly, they became aggressive and one of them pulled out a gun and opened fire at Raju. Four bullets hit his chest and arms, and he later died in hospital."
Bulandshahr SSP Shlok Kumar said the attackers have been identified and efforts are on to nab them. A case of murder has been registered, Kumar said.
Raju is survived by his wife and a seven-year-old daughter.
Notably, under the Petroleum Rules 2002, dispensing petrol in bottles or non-standard containers such as plastic or glass is prohibited, which may attract penalties on the petrol pump and may lead to cancellation of the licence for repeat offenders.
Similar confrontations over demands for filling fuel in bottles or containers were reported in Bulandshahr and its neighbouring areas in the past. "Fuel pumps in rural regions face substantial security challenges owing to insufficient police surveillance. Locals frequently engage in altercations with the staff when refused fuel in containers or for not wearing a helmet. Sometimes such matters escalate, putting the fuel station staffers' lives at risk," said Vinay Kumar Sharma, secretary of UP petrol pump trader's association.