Kolkata Police Apprehends Four Suspects in Major CESC Warehouse Theft
In a significant breakthrough, Kolkata Police on Sunday arrested four individuals, including two who had dramatically escaped a police raid three weeks earlier by leaping into the Hooghly River and swimming away. The arrests are linked to a substantial theft valued at approximately Rs 1.5 crore from a CESC godown located in the Cossipore area of Kolkata.
Dramatic Escape and Subsequent Capture
The case dates back to the theft of cables, copper items, and machinery from a warehouse situated on Jheel Road. Police officers had successfully tracked the suspects to Jyoti Colony during the first week of March. As law enforcement personnel moved in to apprehend them, four men fled through the narrow alleys of the area. In a desperate attempt to evade capture, they threw water drums and chairs in their path to obstruct and slow down the pursuing officers.
Two of the suspects then made a daring escape by jumping into the adjacent Hooghly River. Despite the immediate deployment of police divers in an effort to nab them, the duo managed to elude capture at that time, swimming to safety and disappearing from the scene.
Strategic Arrests and Recovery of Stolen Goods
Following an intensive investigation, Kolkata Police executed a coordinated operation on Sunday, leading to the arrests of Mohammad Rubel, Ibrahim Sheikh, Ashraf Morol, and Jamirul Sheikh in the Duttapukur region. Authorities strategically cut off their potential escape routes towards the river, preventing a repeat of the previous aquatic getaway.
In a related development, police also apprehended Shambhunath Sau from Galiff Street. A significant recovery of stolen goods was made from his possession, further strengthening the case against the accused.
Modus Operandi and Police Insights
An investigating officer provided crucial insights into the gang's operations, stating, "The gang utilized boats to steal copper items from warehouses located off the river bank." This method of theft highlights their strategic use of the Hooghly River as both a means of transport and an escape route, exploiting the waterways to facilitate their criminal activities.
The successful arrests underscore the persistent efforts of Kolkata Police in tackling organized theft and ensuring that those involved in high-value crimes are brought to justice, even after initial setbacks such as the dramatic river escape.
