SANGHAR, Oct 6 An oil pipeline caught fire near Jhol on Tuesday when a valve fitted in the pipeline exploded due to mishandling by some men while pilfering the product.

The robbers came in two vehicles with the aim of stealing oil from the pipeline through a secretly fitted valve. However, thieves, after the mishap, escaped leaving behind the burning valve and tanker, they had brought for taking away the oil in.

The fire reduced to ashes around one acre of cotton field and the loud explosion forced the nearby villagers to rush to the scene. Police also reached there while the fire brigades were called to control the inferno.

Oil supply from Chak No 5 remained suspended and the pipeline was on fire even after the lapse of 12 hours thus keeping the public at bay.

The pipeline was of the British Petroleum which supplies oil from a well in Chak No 5 to main plant in Wayah village near Tando Adam.

Javed Khattak, a BP official immediately reached the place of accident to evaluate the situation.

Jhol police told journalists that an FIR would be lodged if and when anyone comes to make a complaint.

However, police detained six brothers Zahid Ali Jalbani, Imdad, Farman, Raza Mohammad, Arbab Ali and Sajid Ali, sons of Mohammad Zaman Jalbani of village Hayat Jalbani. The six brothers were first to reach there as their village was the closest to the accident site but police locked them up.

DIG Mirpurkhas, Ameer Ahmed Shaikh visited Sanghar on Tuesday and told reporters that an enquiry in oil theft will be conducted by the DPO Mirpurkhas, Munir Ahmed Shaikh and the culprits will be brought to book.

It may be mentioned here that oil worth millions of rupees is stolen every night from the pipelines of the OGDCL and the BP.

The gang had installed more than two dozen secret valves for stealing oil with the connivance of area police and local landlords.

The rate of heist is Rs2.2 million for 44,000 litres which goes into the pocket of the landlord who permits installation of a valve in oil pipeline passing through his lands. Daily several tankers are filled with the stolen oil.