Sambalpur: Police busted an LPG refilling and black marketing racket at Jujumura in Odisha’s Sambalpur district and seized 62 LPG cylinders along with a pick-up vehicle during a late-night raid.

According to police sources, the raid was carried out at a Rajasthani Dhaba under Jujumara police limits after the cops received reliable information about illegal LPG refilling activities.

Police apprehended one person identified as Subash Bishnoi (19), while another accused was reported to be a child in conflict with law (CCL).

During the operation, police seized 40 commercial gas cylinders, 22 domestic cylinders and a pick-up vehicle bearing registration number CG 07 BY 9238.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the activity had allegedly been running for the last 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.

Police said LPG-loaded trucks travelling from Paradip towards Raipur and other areas used to halt at the dhaba, where gas was allegedly drained from the cylinders with the help of some drivers. Taking advantage of the prevailing LPG shortage, the accused were allegedly selling illegally refilled cylinders to nearby dhabas and hotels for wrongful gain.

A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Essential Commodities Act. Further investigation is underway.