Acting on a tip-off regarding the siphoning and black-market sale of LPG, officials conducted a raid at a godown operating under the name ‘Super Gas’ at Pattala, Mannoor in Chirayinkeezhu, on Saturday. The raid was led by the Thiruvananthapuram district supply officer, with officials from the Varkala taluk supply office also participating in the operation.
During the raid, the team discovered that LPG was being illegally and dangerously transferred from cooking gas cylinders to other empty cylinders for resale at inflated prices in the black market. Officials seized 261 LPG cylinders belonging to various oil companies , including private firms, along with the equipment allegedly used for the illegal refilling operation.
The seized LPG cylinders were moved to godowns for safe keeping. Further investigation is under way.
The district supply officer stated that prosecution proceedings will be initiated against those involved under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.