Gangtok, Sikkim: Hoteliers in Sikkim, under police scanner for using domestic cooking gas for commercial purposes, got a breather today. The raids have been stalled for a month.
The decision to postpone the raids, going on for three days in various hotels and restaurants in the state, was taken in a meeting between the police and Sikkim’s state trading corporation, the authorised LPG distributor.
The deputy inspector-general of police (range), Akshay Sachdeva, told The Telegraph that a month’s time was given to the eateries to enable them to get commercial LPG connections.
The Sikkim police had conducted the raids along with the state consumer protection cell and district administrations. The raids revealed that subsidised domestic connections were being used illegally in hotels and restaurants. The police found that each of the eateries raided was using five to six connections simultaneously.
Misuse of domestic cooking gas attracts penalty under the Essential Commodities Act and the LPG Control Act of 2001 and brings seven years’ jail term.
Some 19 cases — including yesterday’s 15 — were registered under the two acts.
Sachdeva said the decision to stall the raids was taken after trading corporation officials sought time to inquire into the misappropriation cases and get the eateries to take commercial connections.
The fear of police raid forced several restaurants to down shutters today.
The state police have come under heavy criticism since the raid was carried out during peak tourist season.
Sources in the police said the trading corporation and private distributors were in league with each other and blindly issuing domestic connections to commercial establishments. The enforcement agencies were also negligent and lethargic about preventing the illegal use, which has been going on for years.
The shortage of domestic LPG in the state was also attributed to the misuse.
Source: The Telegraph
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