419 LPG cylinders seized, 21 held in state; 4 eateries sealed in Patna

Patna: In a statewide crackdown on the illegal storage and black marketing of LPG, police have seized 419 cylinders over the past few days, registered 14 FIRs and arrested 21 people across several districts. On Wednesday, four eateries were sealed in Patna for illegally using domestic LPG cylinders, and FIRs were lodged against the violators.“Acting on the directions of DGP Vinay Kumar, investigations, raids and enforcement of related laws have been intensified in all districts, with continuous monitoring at the police headquarters level. Simultaneously, cafes and restaurants are being inspected, and eateries found using domestic LPG cylinders illegally are being sealed. On Wednesday, four restaurants in areas including Kankarbagh, Patna City and Barh were sealed, and five FIRs were lodged for the illegal use of domestic cylinders,” Patna district magistrate (DM) Thiyagarajan S M said at a press conference. The DM further said that regular inspections of gas dealers and distributors are also underway, and any involvement in black marketing or negligence would invite immediate arrest and prosecution under the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA).According to official data, the biggest seizure was made in the Forbesganj police station area of Araria district, where 261 cylinders were recovered and two persons arrested. In Saharsa district, the police registered an FIR after seizing 112 cylinders and identifying one accused.Cylinders have also been seized and arrests made in several other districts, including Sheohar, Madhepura, Begusarai, Saran, Muzaffarpur, Motihari, Siwan and Katihar. Investigations are ongoing, with raids continuing in other districts to curb illegal storage and black-market sale of LPG.