New Delhi, April 19 (NationPress) In a major operation against the illegal hoarding of LPG cylinders, the Delhi Police apprehended an individual connected to a black marketing network and confiscated 57 HP gas cylinders along with refilling apparatus in Rohini, officials disclosed on Sunday.

Officials reported this as a significant breakthrough as the Crime Branch (NR-1) of the Delhi Police executed synchronized raids following actionable and reliable intelligence across various sites in the Rohini region. The operation unveiled a widespread illegal scheme involving unauthorized storage and refilling of LPG cylinders.

During the crackdown, authorities seized 57 HP gas cylinders along with the equipment utilized for refilling, indicating severe breaches of safety regulations and compliance standards. The authorities emphasized that this seizure underscores a calculated abuse of the LPG distribution mechanism.

In light of ongoing issues regarding hoarding and black marketing of LPG cylinders, a specialized team was formed to detect and apprehend those engaged in such illegal practices.

This team comprised Inspector Pukhraj Singh, Sub-Inspector Niranjan Singh, Sub-Inspector Rahul, Assistant Sub-Inspector Pradeep, Head Constable Vikrant, Head Constable Harjeet, and Constable Manoj. The operation was overseen by ACP Ashok Sharma of NR-1.

According to officials, after thorough groundwork, reliable secret inputs were jointly received by Head Constable Narender and Head Constable Vikrant regarding the illegal hoarding and refilling of LPG cylinders in the Rama Vihar area of Rohini district.

In response to this information, a well-coordinated raid was executed near the Sursuman Gas Agency in Sector-22, Rohini. During this operation, a man named Lokpal, aged 55 and originally from Etah, Uttar Pradesh, currently residing in Begumpur, Delhi, was allegedly caught in the act of hoarding and illegally refilling LPG cylinders.

Following the raid, a case was filed on Saturday under the relevant sections of the Essential Commodities Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita at the Crime Branch police station, with further investigations underway.

Authorities revealed that among the 57 cylinders seized, 50 were filled, two were empty, and five contained a reduced amount of gas. Additionally, a Tata pickup truck suspected of being used for transporting the cylinders and a weighing machine were also confiscated from the scene.

Investigators further disclosed that the accused was previously employed as a registered delivery personnel with an authorized gas agency that holds distributorship for HP LPG and was tasked with cylinder distribution in the Rohini region. The agency's authorized storage godown is also situated in Rohini.

During questioning, it was uncovered that the accused had allegedly diverted LPG cylinders intended for delivery and instead stored them unlawfully in his vehicle instead of fulfilling his daily distribution obligations, according to police reports.

Officials added that he maintained an unauthorized stock and was allegedly engaged in transferring gas from filled cylinders into empty ones using illegal equipment. The refilled cylinders were then sold in the open market, enabling him to exploit the situation for personal financial gain.

Further inquiries into the case are ongoing, police stated.