MOHALI, July 29 — A couple has been arrested for illegally refilling and selling LPG cylinders from their grocery store in a residential area of Phase 1, Mohali, in a move that authorities said posed a serious fire and explosion hazard.
The accused, identified as Syed Ali and Amina Khatoon, were allegedly decanting gas from domestic LPG cylinders into smaller ones and selling them at inflated prices, police said. A raid conducted at their premises led to the seizure of five large LPG cylinders, eight small cylinders, and a weighing machine used in the illegal refilling operation.
“The duo had no licence or authorisation to refill or sell gas cylinders,” said a police official involved in the crackdown. “Their actions posed a serious risk to life and property in the neighbourhood. Cylinder blasts have become increasingly common due to such unsafe practices.”
Police said the operation was part of a broader campaign to curb unauthorized gas distribution units functioning in densely populated areas.
A case has been registered under Sections 287 and 288 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deal with negligent conduct relating to fire and explosive substances.
Further investigation is underway to determine whether the couple had any wider distribution network or links to suppliers.
