Kanthi youth arrested for ‘black marketing’ gas cylinders during crisis; police seize 21 cylinders and refilling machine

A youth has been arrested in Kanthi of Purba Medinipur district for allegedly hoarding and black marketing domestic gas cylinders during an ongoing gas crisis. Police seized 21 cylinders, a gas refilling machine and bottled cutting petrol from the accused during a late-night raid. The arrested individual has been identified as Saroj Dutta, a resident of Kultaliya village in the Deshpran block of Kanthi.

According to police, Saroj Dutta had allegedly stored multiple gas cylinders at his residence and was selling them to local residents at inflated prices. Investigators claim he introduced himself to people in the area as an authorised HP Gas dealer, taking advantage of the shortage situation to attract buyers. Following complaints from locals, officers from Kanthi police station conducted a raid and recovered the cylinders along with gas refilling equipment. Kanthi Subdivisional Police Officer Dibakar Das said that strict action would be taken against anyone involved in illegal storage or sale of gas cylinders.

Meanwhile, the accused has claimed that he was detained illegally. Police have registered a case and produced Saroj Dutta before the Kanthi Subdivisional Court. Authorities are also investigating whether others were involved in the alleged illegal gas trade.