In a daring theft in Ludhiana district, two unidentified men broke into an LPG agency located in Umaidpur village under the Sahnewal police station limits and decamped with approximately 60 gas cylinders, along with a laptop, printer, and modem. The total loss has been estimated at Rs 4.5 lakh. The entire incident was captured on CCTV cameras, despite the accused attempting to damage the surveillance equipment.
Incident Details
The police have registered an FIR based on a complaint filed by Vishal Singla, a resident of Patiala who operates the LPG agency. According to Singla, the accused scaled the boundary wall of the premises on the night of May 24. They tampered with the CCTV cameras to avoid detection, but their actions were still recorded. The thieves then stole office equipment and loaded 48 commercial cylinders (19 kg each) and 12 smaller cylinders (5 kg each) into a vehicle before fleeing the scene.
Allegations of Police Delay
Vishal Singla alleged that there was a significant delay in registering the FIR. He claimed that the police took action only after an influential person intervened. However, investigating officer ASI Karnail Singh stated that the case was registered after a proper inquiry. A case has been booked under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections related to house trespass and theft.
Investigation Underway
Police are now analyzing the CCTV footage to identify the suspects. The stolen cylinders and equipment are being traced, and efforts are underway to apprehend the culprits. The incident has raised concerns about security at LPG agencies in the area.
