Daltonganj: Over 200 LPG consumers in Latehar district are struggling to get their refills after the distribution agency they are tagged to has shut down following an FIR against its owner. The block supply office has now tagged the consumers to an agency in Palamu’s Chainpur, located 30 km away, leading to concerns about rising delivery costs and delays.
Agency Closure and FIR
Santosh Kumar Singh, owner of Singh HP gas agency in rural Barwadeeh, has been absconding since Barwadeeh block supply officer Sumit Kumar Tiwary registered an FIR against him on April 18, accusing him of gross irregularities. Tiwary stated that an inspection revealed only 241 cylinders in stock against the earmarked 721, and Singh was charged with obtaining OTP from customers without delivering cylinders.
Police Investigation
Anurag Kumar, officer-in-charge of Barwadeeh police station, confirmed on Friday that an FIR was filed under sections of the BNS and Essential Commodities Act. The accused remains absconding, and the agency has been closed since the FIR was lodged.
