Bathinda, March 18: Tensions have escalated in Bathinda as LPG dealers claim that their delivery workers are being targeted and assaulted by the public during an ongoing gas shortage. A delegation of dealers met with Deputy Commissioner Rajesh Dhiman to raise urgent concerns regarding the safety of their frontline staff. The representatives affirmed that workers are facing increasing hostility from residents, particularly in rural areas, due to delayed supplies.
Bhushan Garg, a prominent LPG dealer, maintained that the situation has become so severe that many employees are now reluctant to continue working. He declared that a worker was recently tied to a trailer in a village, highlighting the physical risks faced by the staff. Garg asserted that dealers are already operating up to 16 hours a day to manage the crisis and warned that they might be forced to hand over operations to the administration if the violence persists.
Other members of the delegation declared that workers are being frequently abused and beaten by individuals demanding immediate delivery without having followed the booking process. They maintained that despite informing customers about the necessary procedures, staff members continue to face unprovoked aggression. The dealers urged the authorities to intervene immediately to restore order and ensure the security of their employees.
District Food and Civil Supplies Controller Daljit Singh Sandhu affirmed that a meeting has been held with the dealers to address the crisis. He stated that the distributors have been instructed to maintain supplies across all areas, including villages, while administrative efforts continue to stabilize the situation. The official maintained that the government is monitoring the supply chain closely to prevent further friction between the public and delivery staff.
