The Tamil Nadu Petrol Dealers Association (TNPDA) has issued a warning of a one-day statewide shutdown of all fuel retail outlets if the government does not intervene in a recent machete attack at a petrol bunk in Thoothukudi and the subsequent handling of the case by the police. Association president K P Murali stated that all 7,000 fuel retail outlets across the state could suspend sales in protest against attacks on petrol bunk staff and concerns over the seizure of surveillance equipment by law enforcement.
Details of the Incident
According to Murali, the incident occurred at an Indian Oil outlet where a group allegedly misbehaved with employees after being asked not to urinate near the fuel dispensing area. He explained, "After about an hour, they returned to the same place with a gang of around ten people. They came with dangerous weapons. They had machetes, rods and iron rods. They targeted the staff who had stopped them earlier and tried to assault them."
Staff Safety and Property Damage
The employees took shelter inside a room while the group damaged property belonging to the public sector oil company. Murali urged the district administration to identify and arrest those responsible and called for stronger action against drug abuse. He also criticized the police for removing the Digital Video Recorder (DVR) from the outlet's surveillance system, which he said hampered the investigation.
Demands and Next Steps
The TNPDA demands that the government ensure the safety of fuel outlet staff and prevent such attacks in the future. If their demands are not met, the association will proceed with a one-day statewide shutdown, which would disrupt fuel supply across Tamil Nadu. The association also seeks a thorough investigation into the incident and the return of the seized DVR.
