Inter-state BSNL cable theft gang busted, 5 held

Nagpur: Rana Pratap Nagar police cracked an organised inter-state gang responsible for multiple thefts of BSNL underground copper cables across Nagpur city, arresting five persons and recovering stolen property valued at Rs14.22 lakh in a single-day operation on Friday.The gang was linked to seven cases registered under Section 303(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, at police stations including Sadar, Tehsil, Bajaj Nagar, Dhantoli, and Lakadganj. These thefts repeatedly disrupted BSNL landline and broadband services in different parts of the city over recent weeks.
The case originated from a complaint filed by BSNL supervisor Mayank Swami (38) at Rana Pratap Nagar police station. He stated that between 8.15am and 9.30am on Feb 19, unknown persons sliced open a BSNL pillar near Ajoba Park in Swavalambi Nagar and stole 2,070 cable crowns worth Rs31,050, along with a motorcycle.Acting swiftly on technical leads, surveillance footage analysis, and secret information, a police team launched immediate raids.The following day, five suspects were in custody, including Duryodhana Kore (32), Tekeshwar Kharkate (30), and Abhijeet Mendhe (27) from Gondia, and Aniket alias Rocky Mishra (25) and Atif Ali Mustaqeen Ali (25), both natives of Uttar Pradesh.From the first 2 accused, investigators recovered the 2,070 crowns, stolen motorcycle, and an array of cutting tools — iron rods, steel leaves, plastic-covered blades, cutters, and a screwdriver.A significantly larger haul was seized from the remaining accused, including around 16 boxes holding an estimated 7,100 crown pieces valued at Rs11 lakh and a mini-truck that was converted into a mobile juice/ice-cream vending unit. The operation was supervised by Rana Pratap Nagar senior police inspector Pankaj Bondse under zonal DCP Rishikesh Singa Reddy, Jt CP Navinchandra Reddy, and CP Ravinder Singal.Police officials said the accused used the modified mini-truck to transport and camouflage large quantities of stolen copper, which was lifted from multiple sites before being moved out of the city.Further investigation is continuing to identify potential receivers of the pilfered material.