Kathmandu, November 20

Metro police has stepped up action against hoarders and black marketeers of cooking gas in the Kathmandu Valley as the number of half-filled LPG cylinders allocated to the dealers did not reach the consumers.

Police raided a LPG store owned by Madan Prasad Neupane in Tarkeshwor Municipality and arrested him as well as his son Rijan with 12 half-filled LPG cylinders. They were caught hoarding LPG cylinders and selling them at an exorbitant prices. Though they were the authorised dealer of only Namaste and Manoj Gas, they had hoarded and sold half-filled LPG cylinders of Himal Gas. They have been charged under the Black Marketing Act.

Similarly, Lalitpur Metropolitan Police Range arrested Binay Sah, Proprietor of JS Store, Sanepa with 14 half-filled LPG cylinders of Himal Gas yesterday. DSP Kishan Singh Thapa said the cylinders were stored in a rented room for the purpose of black marketing.

According to police, Sah had collected 35 LPG cylinders from Kalimati-based Himal Gas Depot, but concealed 14 cylinders at the rented room. Police produced Sah before the District Administration Office, Lalitpur and was released on bail of Rs 1,00,000 today. Hoarding and black marketing of fuel and cooking gas have been flourishing in the wake of acute shortage of essential supplies due to the ongoing Tarai agitation and blockade at various border points.

Police have arrested more than 90 black marketeers of petroleum products as of today. A section of people and traders has been taking advantage of the ongoing fuel crisis.