Cuttack/Jajpur: In a continued statewide drive against illegal hoarding and black marketing of LPG cylinders, a joint team comprising police, district administration, and civil supplies officials seized nearly 500 LPG cylinders from a warehouse in Odisha’s Cuttack city.
Acting on specific intelligence, the raid targeted suspected stockpiling in Gangeswar area under Sadar police station limits.intended for sale at inflated prices in violation of regulations. One Amarendra Sahu, a resident of Ishwarpur locality, was detained for questioning.
The seized cylinders were later sent to an authorised gas agency at Kantapada.
In a parallel operation in Jajpur district, the supplies department raided a shop in Swain market at Chandikhol following tips about hoarding and black marketing. The shop was opened in the presence of a magistrate and around 57 LPG cylinders were seized. Efforts are underway to trace the shop owner.
The seizure in Cuttack is perhaps the largest single raid haul, since the Odisha government directed officials to intensify crackdown on illegal hoarding and black marketing of LPG gas cylinders, to prevent a supply crisis. Unscrupulous traders are reportedly exploiting perceived shortages by illegally storing cylinders for resale at higher prices.
