Barabanki (UP), March 16 Thieves broke into a primary school here and allegedly stole an LPG cylinder intended for preparing midday meals for students, police said on Monday.
One person has been arrested in connection with the incident, and police are trying to locate his accomplice, an official said, adding that incidents of LPG cylinder theft have increased in the district due to concerns about a shortage of LPG supply.
The incident took place in a primary school in Sarai Sahay village, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Dariyabad police station.
According to police, the thieves broke the lock of the school kitchen and made off with an LPG cylinder.
The incident came to light on Monday morning when Furqan Ahmad, a representative of the village head of Sarai Shah Alam gram panchayat, was walking in the fields. He noticed two suspicious youths hiding a cylinder among bushes, before they fled the area.
Suspecting foul play, Ahmad chased the youths and managed to apprehend one of them.
A subsequent inspection of the nearby primary school revealed that the kitchen lock had been broken, police said.
Subsequently, police were informed, and a team reached the spot and took the accused youth, identified as Giyas, into custody.
During interrogation, Giyas confessed to the theft along with his accomplice, Lavkush. Lavkush initially took the cylinder, but fearing he might be caught, decided to hide it in the fields.
Police said the stolen cylinder has been recovered.
Dariyabad Station House Officer Dharmendra Kumar said that Giyas has been arrested and is being sent to jail, while efforts are underway to arrest his accomplice.