Barabanki administration seizes 91 gas cylinders in black marketing crackdown

Lucknow: The Barabanki administration has seized a total of 91 gas cylinders from three different locations over the past three days. Two accused have been booked, while the investigation is ongoing to identify other persons involved in the racket.

Officials said on Thursday that a joint team of the supply department recovered 19 gas cylinders from a suspected warehouse. The raid was conducted by assistant regional officer Alok Mishra along with supply inspectors Imran Manzoor and Avdhesh Pandey.




The seized cylinders included seven large domestic cylinders, two small domestic cylinders, and 10 small commercial cylinders. Preliminary inquiry revealed that the warehouse was allegedly linked to a Banki-resident Narendra.

The action follows earlier recoveries made this week. On Monday, the district supply officer (DSO) conducted a raid at a shop in the Awas Vikas area and seized 25 gas cylinders. Two warehouses were also identified as suspicious and subsequently sealed. On Tuesday, acting on the directions of the district magistrate, a team opened one of the sealed warehouses and recovered 47 cylinders.

During questioning, the property owner informed officials that the premises were rented out to Narendra. Despite repeated attempts to contact him, he did not appear before the authorities.

Officials said the second warehouse, which was opened and inspected on Wednesday evening, was also found to be linked to the same accused.

The repeated recoveries from premises associated with the same individual have raised suspicion of an organised network engaged in illegal storage and diversion of LPG cylinders for sale in the black market.

District Supply Officer Rakesh Tiwari confirmed that an FIR has been registered against two accused at the city Kotwali police station.