Acting on a tip-off, the commissionerate police on Saturday seized over 200 LPG cylinders and detained two individuals from an illegal godown operating at Barang block in Cuttack district.
Raid and Detentions
A police team conducted a raid in the morning at a rented house in Brahman Jharilo area, where the illicit operation of unauthorised storage and refilling of LPG cylinders was being run. The premises have been sealed.
During the raid, police detained Anil Patra and Anam Patra, residents of Patrapada area in Bhubaneswar, who are believed to have been engaged in such unlawful activities for a considerable period.
Seized Equipment and Vehicles
Police have also seized equipment used for refilling gas and two four-wheelers, allegedly used in transporting the cylinders, said Amitabh Mohapatra, assistant commissioner of police (ACP), adding strict action will be taken against those involved.
“The site was being used for unauthorised storage and refilling of domestic LPG cylinders, posing a serious threat to public safety due to the risk of fire and explosions,” said the ACP.
Legal Proceedings
A case in this regard has been registered at Sadar police station in Cuttack. Police said that efforts are on to trace the supply chain and check if the cylinders were being diverted from authorised distributors in and around Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.
