In a significant breakthrough, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in Bokaro has apprehended three individuals connected to the theft of crucial transformer coils from a government water supply project site. The arrests, made on Thursday, follow a daring crime where site personnel were held hostage and assaulted.
The Incident and Hostage Situation
The crime occurred a few days ago at a construction site under the joint rural water supply project, located within the jurisdiction of the Nawadih police station. According to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Bokaro, Harvinder Singh, a First Information Report (FIR) was initially registered against 10 to 15 unidentified persons.
The accused allegedly entered the premises of an under-construction building in Chapri village. In a brazen act, they held the site supervisor and a security guard hostage, assaulted them, and caused injuries before making off with the valuable transformer coils.
Arrests and Gang's Technical Modus Operandi
The SIT successfully tracked down and arrested three suspects identified as Sundarlal Marandi, Jitendra Murmu, and Phulchand Hansda. The arrested men hail from Chhotkikudi and Adalbeda villages in the region.
Police investigations have uncovered a technically sophisticated method employed by the gang. They used thick ropes to deliberately short-circuit 11,000-volt power lines. Once the safety mechanisms tripped the power supply, they would safely remove the transformer coils for illicit sale.
Ongoing Investigation and Search for Mastermind
SSP Harvinder Singh noted that the accused possessed surprising technical expertise for such operations. The gang strategically targeted remote rural areas and avoided using four-wheelers to minimize detection and maintain a low profile.
Efforts are currently underway to identify and arrest the alleged mastermind and other remaining members of the criminal network. The police are pursuing all leads to dismantle the entire operation responsible for sabotaging critical infrastructure projects.
