Pics: Pareekshith Shet
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (EP)

Udupi, Feb 28: Tahsildar and officials of the department of food supplies, on the basis of definite information provided by a villager from Hiriadka, on Monday February 27 conducted raids and seized 74 gas cylinders and delivery books illegally stored in different places in Hiriadka.

Udupi tahsildar speaking to the media said that a complaint has been registered in this regard. "The deputy commissioner will conduct an investigation. Futher information on the illegal storage can be obtained only after investigation," he said.

Tahsildar Maheshchandra, assistant commissioner Yogeshwar, Food inspector Sudhakar Shetty conducted the raids in four different places.

While 22 empty cylinders and two gas-filled cylinders were found in the house of Hiriadka resident Raghupati Udupa, 8 cylinders were found in the house of Nagaraj Bhat. As many as 18 cylinders were seized from the house of Devadas Mathase in Kotnakatte. Nine cylinders were found in the house of Srinivas in Kotnakatte. In all, 74 cylinders were seized and cases were registered.

The officials said that NOC should be obtained from gram panchayat, fire brigade, wholesale gas dealers and the district administration to store gas cylinders. No such permissions were obtained in these cases. The cases will be heard in the court of district magistrate after registering FIR, said tahsildar Maheshchandra and AC Yogeshwar.

It appears that the gas cylinders were obtained from wholesalers and were being supplied to houses, hotels and caterers at a profit between Rs 50 to Rs 100. Delivery books were also found in large numbers.