Crackdown on illegal LPG refilling units, 34 cylinders seized

HYDERABAD: In an crackdown against illegal LPG gas refilling units, the Saidabad police on Monday raided Singareni and Wambay Group Housing colonies and seized at least 34 LPG cylinders which were being used to run auto-rickshaws. A team led by sub-inspectors of police, Narsing Rao and Rajendra Naik, of the same police station carried out a pre-dawn operation during which the illegal activity was found to be on in full swing at two units.In due course, the police seized the commercial cylinders and also two refilling machines.
Cops arrested a woman, identified as Shanti Bai, and said that she was allegedly working for Laxman, one of the persons running the unit.
Speaking to TOI, Saidabad police said that a couple -Narendra and Lalitha -the others accused of running the illegal LPG refilling business managed to escape. “We are on the lookout for the duo and are diligently keeping a tab on the illegal gas business in this area. We have managed to significantly reduce the illegal activity,“ Saidabad inspector, K Sathaiah said.
This is not the first time the area has witnessed illegal refilling of cylinders. It was in October 2014 that a cylinder blast rocked the Singareni Colony after which police embarked on a drive to stop the activity.Several raids were conducted.
Last year cops seized illegally refilled domestic LPG cylinders during a cordon search operation.