Gas agency workers held for illegally filing LPG cylinders

With the arrest of three LPG gas agency staffers in New Usmanpur area of north-east Delhi, police on Tuesday claimed to have busted a racket of illegally filling LPG cylinders and selling them in commercial markets.

The police have also recovered 12 filled and 99 empty gas cylinders from Kishan Pal, 38, Dashrath, 26, and Vijay, 28.

“They were held after information regarding larceny of gas from LPG gas cylinders was received on Monday,” said B K Singh, deputy commissioner of police (north-east).

Our team swung into action and caught Kishan and Dashrath filling empty gas cylinders from filled cylinders by using a pipe.

“Both of them were asked to explain their action, but they could not provide any satisfactory reply. Twelve filled cylinders and two empty cylinders were found on the spot, which were seized,” Singh added.

Autorickshaws seized
Their associate Vijay, an autorickshaw driver whose auto was used to supply the gas cylinders — was also apprehended and two autos loaded with cylinders were seized.

On interrogation, Kishan and Dashrath told police that they had been working with a gas agency in the area since February.

“To earn quick money, they started larceny of gas from filled gas cylinders. They used to steal about a kilogram of gas from each cylinder and fill the stolen gas in empty cylinders. The money was distributed equally among themselves,” Singh said.

The three men have been booked under sections 285 (negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter), 379 (theft) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) at New Usmanpur police station.

Police said they conduct regular checks in several pockets of the city to catch people involved in filing LPG cylinders. Labourers and street vendors use small cylinders that can be refilled in such places, which is dangerous, police said.