Kashmir News Bureau Desk
Srinagar, Apr 28(KNB): In a major crackdown pointing to a possible organised LPG pilferage network, a joint operation by the Legal Metrology Department and Doda Police, led by SHO Doda, intercepted a truck carrying LPG cylinders bound for Doda and found 300 out of 340 cylinders underweight, raising serious concerns over a growing “gas theft mafia” in Jammu and Kashmir.
The HPCL truck, bearing number JK02BE 1185, was intercepted on April 25 during a joint checking operation. Officials said only 40 cylinders met prescribed weight standards while the remaining 300 were found short of gas. The vehicle was seized and Hindustan Petroleum was booked under seizure memo number 4944 dated 25-04-2026, and investigation has been set in motion.
Assistant Director, Legal Metrology Ajay Verma told Kashmir News Bureau that a penalty of Rs 1 lakh has been imposed on the transporter Gurwant Singh, while a deeper probe is underway to trace where and how the alleged tampering took place.
The seizure has triggered wider questions as the consignment had reportedly been cleared by HPCL on April 22 after due weight verification. Officials noted the truck should have taken just a day to reach its destination, but was intercepted after a two-day gap, throwing up questions over its movement during the intervening period. HPCL being market leader serves 70% market of J& K and malpractice to this extent can break backone of customers and besides encouraging LPG mafia.
“Where was the truck during these two days, and what happened during that period, is a key focus of investigation,” officials said.
The development comes amid mounting concern over organised LPG theft, with Jammu and Kashmir Police in recent days also uncovering instances linked to illegal siphoning and diversion of domestic gas supplies.
The latest bust has intensified speculation over whether these are isolated incidents or indicators of a coordinated gas pilferage racket operating across the region. Investigators are also probing possible links to a larger network and the role of transit handling.
With repeated detections surfacing, officials say the central question now is no longer whether gas theft exists, but whether an organised gas mafia is in play.(KNB)