Hoshiarpur police arrest four in LPG theft racket linked to Mandialan tanker blast

In a major breakthrough following the tragic LPG tanker explosion in Mandialan that claimed seven lives and left several others injured, Hoshiarpur police have arrested four individuals allegedly involved in an illegal LPG theft racket.

The arrests were announced by Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sandeep Malik during a press conference on Sunday.

The fatal incident occurred around 10.00 PM on August 22, when an HP Gas tanker collided with a Mahindra pickup vehicle near Mandialan. The impact triggered a massive explosion in the LPG-filled tanker, resulting in a fire.

SSP Malik stated that preliminary investigations revealed the tanker driver, identified as Sukhjeet was at fault. Despite being aware that the tanker was carrying LPG, he attempted to turn onto a narrow link road, leading to the deadly mishap. A case was registered at Police Station Bullowal on August 23.

Following the explosion, several Mandialan residents alleged that LPG was routinely pilfered from tankers at two locations en route to the Mandialan bottling plant. Acting on these claims, police launched an investigation.

SSP Malik confirmed that the probe uncovered a large-scale gas theft operation. Authorities recovered 50 gas cylinders, nine oil drums, and several improvised “jugaadu” pipes and nozzles used for illegal refilling. Four individuals were arrested in connection with the racket.

The accused have been identified as Sukhchain Singh alias Sukha of Ram Nagar Dhehan, Avtar Singh alias Matti of Jhandi (PS Bullowal), and brothers Ramesh Kumar and Raj Kumar from Lamma Pind, Jalandhar.

Explaining the modus operandi, SSP Malik said Sukhchain Singh had set up a cattle shed at his residence on the village outskirts, where he illegally filled LPG cylinders with assistance from tanker drivers. Avtar Singh, a former tanker driver, operated his segment of the racket from a tent house in Jhandi and persuaded drivers to bring tankers for pilferage. Ramesh Kumar and Raj Kumar were also involved, stealing LPG in connivance with drivers and supplying it to customers.

“These individuals, in collaboration with certain tanker drivers, had been illegally extracting gas from tankers meant for the HP Gas Plant and refilling it into domestic cylinders for unauthorised sale,” SSP Malik stated.

He also clarified that contrary to residents’ claims, police had not received prior complaints regarding gas pilferage.