Were cylinders diverted to Azamgarh, Ballia by LPG distributors? Cops probing

Varanasi: After Azamgarh, district officials in Ballia lodged FIR against an LPG distributor after 1,000 cylinders reflecting in stock were found missing from the godown.Ballia's Bansdih Tehsil circle food officer Rajesh Kumar Mishra said on order of district magistrate M P Singh received on Mar 24, FIR was lodged against the manager of Rudra Bharat Gas Service for irregularity on large-scale. Mishra said when his team raided godown of the distributor on Mar 23, opening balance in documents showed stock of 1,015 domestic cylinders and 55 empty cylinders. However, in place of it, 674 cylinders in different categories, including 536 empty domestic cylinders, were found in the godown. When the distributor's manager failed to give satisfactory reply regarding the missing cylinders, a report was sent to DM Ballia, who ordered officials to lodge FIR on Mar 24. Earlier, Azamgarh's district supply officer in charge Vikas Singh had lodged FIR against Tauheed Gas Agency on Mar 17 when during a raid only 417 refills were found in the warehouse despite records showing stock of 1,059 filled cylinders. Remaining 642 refills were missing. The distributor and his staff could also not justify absence of empty cylinders when they had sold refills. On failing to receive satisfactory reply, the warehouse was sealed by the joint team of officials and complaint was filed against the distributor, said Vikas Singh. Azamgarh SP Anil Kumar on Thursday said teams had been engaged to detect where the missing cylinders went. Outcomes of initial investigation by police in cases of missing cylinders from godowns of distributors hinted domestic cylinders were being diverted to commercial users with a good-faith belief that after consumption of gas the empty cylinders will be returned.Azamgarh SP made it clear that if more delay was caused in searching for the missing cylinders, a drive will be launched to check commercial establishments to detect diversion and misuse.