Sans CCTV footage, Miran Sahib case yet to be cracked
Bivek Mathur
JAMMU, Nov 16: A gang of thieves has been linked to the recent thefts at an electric wire company godown in Bari Brahamana and Janipur grid station, with police arresting two persons involved in the incidents.
On October 29, 2024, a group of thieves decamped with KEI wires worth Rs 15 lakh from the godown of the company in Bari Brahamana during the early hours by taking the guards hostage.
Thereafter, on November 9, 2024, a group of 7-8 thieves stormed the Janipur Grid Station around 3 am, taking the guards hostage and escaping with electrical wires worth approximately Rs 1 lakh.
Earlier, on October 25 as well, a group of 8-10 thieves carried out a similar heist at the Talli Morh Grid Station in Miran Sahib area, between 3-3:30 am, stealing transmitters and cable wires valued at Rs 3-4 lakh. The guards at the Miran Sahib station were also held at gunpoint during the robbery.
The gang’s modus operandi involved conducting recce of grid stations during the day and executing thefts in the early hours. Using weapons to intimidate guards, the thieves would steal electrical equipment, load it onto a Tata Mobile, and sell it to undisclosed buyers, many of whom remain at large.
Investigating the case, a team of Police Station Bari Brahamana, led by SHO concerned, Inspector Pushpinder Singh, with the help of CCTV footage and other leads, arrested one accused person and lodged him in custody for further investigation.
During investigation, the accused confessed that he conducted the heist along with other people and sold the stolen material in Telli Basti area.
During sustained interrogation, police got information about other members of his gang and accordingly arrested another individual, who confessed to his involvement in Janipur Grid Station theft on November 9.
Later, the Janipur team was alerted by Police Station Bari Brahamana followed by which, the former quizzed the accused in the custody of Bari Brahamana Police Station.
SDPO Jammu West, Dr Satish Bhardwaj, revealed that the Janipur Police, led by SHO Inspector Pawan Dogra, has cracked the Janipur case by interrogating two suspects already in custody of the Bari Brahamana Police Station.
According to him, both suspects have confessed to their gang’s involvement in the Bari Brahamana and Janipur incidents and also told police about the involvement of other gang members in different other thefts.
“The thieves are mostly from Samba and Kathua districts. While we’ve identified two suspects, the gang has 8-10 members, many of whom are yet to be apprehended,” Dr Bhardwaj said.
Meanwhile, investigations into the Miran Sahib Grid Station theft are ongoing.
SHO Miran Sahib Police Station Inspector Bopinder Singh said that a lack of CCTV footage in the area has delayed progress in the case.
“We are probing the matter, but no breakthrough has been achieved so far,” he said.
According to him, police are also examining the possibility of insiders’ involvement in the thefts, though no evidence has surfaced yet.
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