Sangat Mandi shuts down over LPG cylinder shortage, alleged bogus delivery

Irate over the shortage of LPG cylinders and alleged black marketing, shopkeepers in Sangat Mandi, about 20 km from Bathinda city, observed a complete shutdown on Friday. The police later registered a case against a pick-up driver and a woman gas agency owner, following which the protest was called off around 5 pm.

The action followed an incident on Friday night when residents intercepted a pick-up vehicle carrying LPG cylinders, suspecting irregularities in distribution. The DSP and SHO had reached the spot, brought the situation under control and seized the vehicle.

Residents claimed they had not received cylinders for the past couple of days. “The SMS shows that the cylinder has been delivered, but most of us have not received it. It clearly indicates black marketing. A domestic LPG cylinder is being sold for Rs 2,500. There is only one gas agency here, and at any given time, over a hundred people can be seen standing in queues,” said a protester.

Earlier in the day, shopkeepers staged a protest outside the local police station and later held a demonstration in the main bazaar near the bus stand, raising slogans against gas agency officials, the district administration and the police.

Sushil Kumar Goldy, one of those who spearheaded the protest, said, “The police had called us at 9.30 am today, where an officer of the Food and Civil Supplies Department was also present. However, when no satisfactory reply was given, residents launched a protest. It was above party lines, as we only want a permanent solution to the issue of bogus delivery. We also urge the district administration to allot two more gas agencies, as the existing one has nearly 24,000 connections.”

Meanwhile, the police said an FIR had been registered against the driver, Nirmal Singh, for allegedly diverting cylinders to select customers on the black market, on the directions of gas agency owner Anju Bala, under Sections 7 and 61(2) of the Essential Commodities Act. Both Nirmal and Anju, however, were yet to be arrested.