CHATTOGRAM: Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB-7) arrested three persons for selling gas from a mobile filling stations set up inside covered vans at Satkania upazila in the district on Sunday night.

 Four covered vans with 614 gas cylinders were also seized at that time.

 RAB sources said the arrestees used to sell gas to the CNG-driven auto-rickshaws by setting up mobile refuelling stations at the covered vans. These illegal refuelling stations possess high risk as it could lead to explosion, they said.

 Rab-7, Chattogram Assistant Director (Media) Md Nurul Absar said on information, they conducted a drive at the Keranihat-Bandarban Road under the upazila and arrested the trio.

 However, the covered van owners managed to flee the scene, he said.

 Regarding the illegal refuelling stations, he said, “Firstly, the arrestees did not have any license from the Department of Explosives for setting up such mobile filling station.”

 “Besides, the pipelines through which they pass gas from the distribution machine, and the lighting sources have the same electricity connection. This could lead to short circuit, fire and even explosion at any time,” he said.

 A case was filed with the concerned Satkania police station in this connection, the AD added.