Farrukhabad Raid Exposes Illegal Cooking Gas Refilling Operation
In a significant crackdown on black marketing, a civil supplies department team conducted a raid on two shops located on Station Road in Fatehgarh, Farrukhabad, busting an illegal racket involved in refilling cooking gas from domestic cylinders into smaller cylinders for profit.
Details of the Raid and Recovery
Supply inspectors Amit Chaudhary and Abhishek Mishra jointly executed the operation, targeting a shop operating below Khatu Shyam Lodge and Hotel in the Bholepur area of Station Road. As the officials arrived, two individuals identified as Raghav and his associate fled the scene, each carrying a cylinder. The team successfully recovered a total of six domestic gas cylinders, two re-fillers, and one small 5-kilogram gas cylinder. All recovered items were securely placed in the custody of the gas service owner.
Illegal Practices and Consumer Risks
Local residents informed the officials that gas was being illegally transferred from large cylinders into smaller ones at a rate of Rs 180 per kilogram. Investigation confirmed that this refilling process involved transferring gas from domestic cylinders, posing severe dangers during a gas crisis. Officials emphasized that such activities not only endanger common consumers but also promote black marketing, exacerbating supply shortages.
Legal Actions and Official Statements
District supply officer Surendra Kumar Yadav stated that the operation violated the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Supply and Distribution Regulation Order and constitutes an offence under sections 3/7 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. A detailed report has been submitted to the district magistrate, and upon receiving permission, a case was registered at Kotwali Fatehgarh against Raghav, who was present at the establishment, and Rishabh, who operated the shop below Khatu Shyam Lodge. Yadav affirmed that raid operations will continue to curb such illegal activities.
SHO Ranvijay Singh confirmed that legal action is being pursued following the registration of the case, underscoring the authorities' commitment to enforcing regulations and protecting consumer interests.
