JHARSUGUDA: On Sunday, the Jharsuguda police detained four individuals suspected of being involved in a coordinated theft of electrical aluminium conductors that are essential for powering rural water supply and irrigation projects.
The arrested suspects include Abdul Khyyam (46) from Telibhata, Ashraf Raza (26) from Purunabasti in Jharsuguda, Abdul Rahim (35) from Jharkhand, and Ajmail Mir (48) from West Bengal. They are believed to be part of a larger interstate scrap theft ring.
Authorities confiscated a pickup truck, six bundles of the stolen aluminium conductors, a wire cutter thought to have been used in the theft, and plastic rope from their possession. The arrests followed a case filed at the Kolabira police station after an employee from the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (RWSS) in Raghunathpali reported the theft.
During their investigation, police discovered that the gang had pilfered approximately 2,000 meters of 11 KV aluminium conductor from the RWSS project at J Pundkimal under the Jhirlapali feeder. They were also implicated in the theft of another 1,600 meters of 11 KV conductor from the Badbahal RWSS and Ghanadihi lift irrigation point, as well as the Jianjore LI point under Raghunathpali feeder.
Jharsuguda Superintendent of Police Gundala Reddy Raghavendra stated that the offenses were carried out systematically by the interstate gang. The suspects have admitted to their involvement and acknowledged committing similar thefts in other regions. The stolen conductors were reportedly stored in a scrap godown located in Purunabasti, Jharsuguda.
The suspects have been presented in court, and the investigation continues as authorities work to capture additional members of the syndicate, the SP noted.
