Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Dec 27:  Following a spate of complaints received by them relating to the theft of LPG cylinders in the district since the last several months, the policemen of the district succeeded in busting a racket involved with the theft. On Thursday December 25, two persons named Umesh Poojary (32) and Raju Poojary (34) from Handadi near Brahavar were arrested from near Sasthan village, while  Shabbir(40) from Sasthan, the other accused, succeeded in escaping.

They also took possession of 43 LPG cylinders of different companies from them and seized the Maruti car used for transporting them. The policemen stumbled upon the thieves by chance, when the  people travelling in a car which they had stopped for routine checking, started to flee upon sighting the policemen.

The thieves roamed around during the day and marked the spots where the cylinders were kept outside. At night, they went there and took away the cylinders. During the last several months, gas cylinders of several schools and other establishments had been taken away by them in this fashion. They had also broken open the door of a cylinder godown in Malpe some time ago and stolen 11 cylinders from there. A rice bag was also stolen by them from a school. The cylinders were stored in the house of the accused Shabbir.

Raju Poojary has been running a garage near Brahmavar Akashvani, where he used to supply gas kits and also cylinders for Rs 3,000. The people suspect the involvement of more people in the racket. Investigations are on.

A case has been registered in Kota police station. The accused were presented in a court, where they were remanded to 15 days judicial custody. The police have asked the general public to be careful and not to buy cylinders being sold in the black market and also not to keep gas cylinders in the open.