Government Seizes 57,000 LPG Cylinders, Arrests 229 in Nationwide Anti-Hoarding Drive

In view of the prevailing political tension in the West Asian region, the government is taking stringent measures to ensure there is no black marketeering or stocking of LPG cylinders in India. According to Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum, there have been about 1.2 lakh operations carried out all across the nation against the violators who disrupt the supply chain of gas, and oil marketing firms have stepped up their inspection process.

According to Sujata Sharma, during these intensive raids, more than 57,000 gas cylinders have been seized, over 950 FIRs have been registered, and 229 people have been arrested. She added that public sector oil marketing companies (OMCs) have taken strict action, issuing over 2,100 show-cause notices, imposing heavy fines on 204 LPG distributors, and suspending 53 distributors with immediate effect. On April 9, 2026, alone, raids were conducted at over 3,800 locations across the country, resulting in the seizure of approximately 450 cylinders.

The geopolitics prevailing globally have disrupted gas supplies, but there have been no incidents reported regarding any disruptions from the distributors' side. Sujata Sharma said that to ensure proper management of resources, there has been a steep rise of around 92 percent in DAC-based deliveries, and 98 percent of deliveries have been made via the online booking system. To ensure the continuity of industrial operations, key sectors such as pharmaceuticals, food, polymers, and steel will be provided with 70 percent of their pre-March 2026 LPG share, subject to an overall limit of 0.2 TMT per day. Furthermore, approximately 106,093 metric tons of commercial LPG have been sold since March 14, 2026.

To provide relief to migrant workers and students, the supply of 5-kilogram FTL (FTL) cylinders through state governments has been doubled. Since March 23, 2026, 1.1 million such small cylinders have been sold to these vulnerable communities.

Concurrent with this domestic management, the government is also ensuring the safety of businesses and citizens on the global front. Amid the West Asia crisis, 1,927 Indian sailors have returned home safely. However, the movement of merchant ships through the Iranian-controlled Strait of Hormuz remains restricted, with only 12 vessels having passed through since the ceasefire. India has also expressed deep concern over the deaths of civilians in Lebanon, where approximately 1,000 Indian citizens reside.

Amid the ongoing tensions in West Asia, the government has so far safely repatriated 1,927 Indian sailors, 124 of whom returned in the last 24 hours. Mukesh Mangal, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, told an inter-ministerial briefing on Friday that all Indian sailors in the Gulf region are completely safe. No untoward incident has occurred with any Indian ship in the last 24 hours. He said, "We are in constant contact with the Ministry of External Affairs and Indian embassies. Our priority is the welfare of the sailors and the smooth flow of maritime trade." The Shipping Minister reviewed the situation and directed all ports and Directorates General to immediately resolve any problems faced by exporters or traders. The government's goal is to remove logistical bottlenecks and maintain smooth trade operations.

India has expressed deep concern over the civilian casualties in Lebanon. On Friday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at an inter-ministerial briefing that the current situation is extremely worrying, especially given India's long-standing commitment to peace and stability in the region. He further stated that India has always given the highest priority to the safety of civilians. It is essential to adhere to international law and respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states. Around 1,000 Indian citizens live in Lebanon. Two days ago, Israeli attacks killed more than 300 people in Lebanon.