Seven arrested in chemical theft racket

SURAT:

Acting on a tip-off

, the CID (crime) unit of Surat busted a

racket

of pilfering chemicals from parked trucks and selling them illegally.

Seven

persons

involved in the racket were arrested and cash and valuables worth Rs 29 lakh were recovered from them.

The racket was busted in Ichhapore and police arrested seven persons identified as Gurbachhan Sindhu (30), Ashish Rajput (27), Jatin Maysuriya(28),

Mangilal Mali

(26), Kalusingh Rajput (34), Chandankumar Gupta (25) and Pannalal Salvi (37). One Munna Bharwad who used to arrange buyers for the stolen chemicals is yet to be arrested.

Police raided a tin shed in

Bhatpore Industrial Estate

and recovered 58 barrels of stolen chemicals, Rs 69,440 cash and 10 mobile phones from the spot.

“They used to develop contact with drivers of chemical tankers and involved them in the racket by paying them. They used to ask the driver to park the tanker at a specific location where the chemical was pilfered,” said a police officer.

The chemicals were stolen from tankers going towards or from Hazira.