Assam officials seize 100 illegal gas cylinders from shop under school

Guwahati: Food and Civil Supplies Department officials raided Dewan Stove in Sivasagar on Tuesday, October 13. They seized over 100 domestic and commercial LPG cylinders from the shop. The operation followed a confidential tip and reports of a persistent gas smell. The shop operates out of Purana Patti, a site now identified as a major safety risk. A private school sits directly above the business, and houses crowd both sides of the street.

Superintendent Uttam Nazir led the raid on the shop owned by Abdur Rashid Ahmed. Officials filed a formal complaint against Ahmed with the district commissioner. Ahmed admitted to dangerous practices during questioning. He told investigators that gas cylinders had been supplied by gas-selling agencies operating in Sivasagar town. He also confessed to siphoning gas from full tanks into empty ones. Nazir stated the action, "may have averted a major accident in the area."

Crews recovered a specialized device used for the illegal gas transfers from the premises. This incident puts the spotlight on local agencies that supply unauthorized operators. Officials continue to investigate how these shops gain access to fuel and bypass standard safety protocols.