LAHORE, May 27: Police have taken into custody over 501 people, including drivers and traders, and registered as many cases against them for using illegal LPG cylinders in vehicles, decanting of LPG, selling/transporting petrol in open and filling CNG in LPG cylinders or vice versa in the last two days’ crackdown.

At least 244 cases have been registered against illegal petrol sale in the open while 257 cases against LPG-related violations.

The crackdown was ordered by the acting provincial police chief following killings of 14 schoolchildren and a teacher in a van fire in Gujrat.

Police teams raided markets, bazaars, Lorry Adda, wagon stands and filling stations to check the illegalities, got shops closed and impounded vehicles.

Cases have been registered under Sections 285 (negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter) and 286 (negligent conduct with respect to explosive substance) of the PPC on behalf of the state.

Chief Traffic officer Captain Sohail Chaudhry (retired) told Dawn that traffic wardens had got registered at least 125 cases against violators.

He said wardens acted against selling of petrol on footpath, people carrying petrol in canes and vehicles using CNG gas in amended LPG cylinders.

The CTO said that wardens, in association with the local police, also checked commercial vehicles at Lorry Adda and wagon stands across the city and impounded 78 wagons which carried both CNG and LPG cylinders.

DIG (Operations) Jawad Ahmad Dogar said that police teams only checked the sale of petrol in the open market and decanting of LPG without licenses.

He said all SHOs had been strictly directed to get clearance from such illegal practices from their areas and take steps against the use of LPG in vehicles in association with Vehicle Fitness Inspectors.

He said police would not spare those CNG stations which were found involved in gas hoarding.