Sambalpur: Police busted an illegal LPG refilling and black marketing racket at Jujumura in Sambalpur district and seized 62 LPG cylinders along with a pick-up vehicle during a late-night raid, officials said on Tuesday.
According to police sources, the raid was conducted at a Rajasthani Dhaba under Jujumura police limits following reliable inputs regarding unauthorised LPG refilling activities being carried out at the premises.
During the operation, police apprehended one accused identified as Subash Bishnoi (19). Another accused involved in the case was reported to be a child in conflict with law (CCL), sources said.
Police seized 40 commercial LPG cylinders, 22 domestic cylinders and a pick-up vehicle allegedly used in the illegal operation.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the racket had allegedly been operating for the past three months under the supervision of an illegal gas dealer identified as Giridhari Ramji in connivance with dhaba owner Sohan.
The accused were allegedly siphoning LPG from loaded commercial cylinders into empty cylinders using pipes and other accessories for illegal sale and distribution, police said.
Further investigation is underway to ascertain the wider network involved in the black marketing racket and identify other persons connected to the operation.
