Uttarakhand STF seizes 101 LPG cylinders in Roorkee

ROORKEE: In a major action under ‘Operation Prahar’, Uttarakhand special task force (STF) on Saturday busted an illegal LPG storage racket and recovered 101 domestic gas cylinders from the South Civil Lines area in Roorkee. Police here have registered a case under sections of the Essential commodities act.Acting on specific inputs about hoarding and black-marketing of LPG cylinders amid an ongoing supply crunch, an STF team conducted a raid at a premises. Most of the seized cylinders were reportedly of "Indra Gas" company as well as other gasoline firms. SSP (STF) Ajay Singh said inputs had indicated that hoarders were illegally stockpiling domestic LPG cylinders and selling them to hotel and dhaba operators at inflated prices. “The STF team carried out a raid and found 101 illegally stored cylinders from a single location,” he said.Police identified the premises as belonging to one Jaiveer Singh, a resident of South Civil Lines, who was allegedly involved in the illegal storage. He was, however, not present during the raid.Officials from the district food and civil supplies were called to the spot and they are currently investigating the matter.All confiscated cylinders have been handed over to them after due legal formalities, police said, adding that a case of hoarding, distribution and black marketing of LPG cylinders were registered with Civil Lines police.The STF team involved in the operation comprised Inspector Abul Kalam, sub-inspector Vidya Dutt Joshi, head constables Devendra Mamgain, Mahendra Singh Negi and Sanjay.