Police in Bokaro have made a significant breakthrough in a series of vehicle battery thefts. They arrested five men on Tuesday for stealing batteries from cars, trucks, autos, and e-rickshaws in both city and rural areas of the district.
Recovery of Stolen Batteries
Officers recovered a total of 46 stolen batteries from the accused individuals. This recovery marks a major success in curbing the thefts that have plagued the district in recent weeks.
Details of the Arrested Individuals
The police identified the arrested men as Dhiraj Kumar Verma (21), Pratham Kumar (19), Roshan Kumar (20), Piyush Kumar (19), and Mahesh Kumar Mahto (40). All of them are residents of areas under the Balidih, City, and Sector-12 police station limits.
Senior Superintendent of Police Harvinder Singh revealed that Mahesh Kumar Mahto, a 40-year-old resident of Jainamoad, served as the mastermind of the gang. He operated a battery shop and purchased the stolen batteries from the other gang members.
Organized Gang Operations
This group is part of an organized gang involved in at least seven such theft cases reported across various police stations in Bokaro district. The gang members range in age from 19 to 40 years.
Police Investigation and Raids
Separate cases of battery thefts were registered at Balidih, Sector-12, City, and Pindrajora police stations. Acting on specific inputs, authorities formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under the Deputy Superintendent of Police (Headquarters).
The SIT conducted raids based on human intelligence and technical inputs, which led to the uncovering of the gang's operations. During interrogation, the accused confessed to their crimes.
Targeting Costly E-Rickshaw Batteries
The gang specifically targeted e-rickshaw batteries due to their high cost. They sold these stolen batteries in the grey market for profit. Police noted that the prime accused, Dhiraj Kumar Verma, has a previous criminal history related to theft activities.
This arrest operation demonstrates the police's commitment to tackling organized crime in the district. Residents can expect continued vigilance against such thefts in the future.
