Vinod M Jain
The Bengaluru City Police of Yeshwanthpur Police have arrested an inter-state gang that posed as BSNL staff to steal telecom infrastructure, recovering stolen materials worth approximately Rs.7 lakh.
Senior officer told reporters that a complaint was lodged at Yeshwanthpur Police Station on April 19 by a BSNL official,stating that between April 17 and April 19, unidentified persons had stolen 2,160 modules and 66 meters of copper cable worth ₹2.39 lakh from telecom installations.
Based on the complaint,a case was registered under relevant sections of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property (PDPP) Act,Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS),and the Telegraph Act.
During investigation,police teams acting on a tip-off apprehended three accused from Yeshwanthpur and Malleswaram areas.
The arrested have been identified as Ravi Chauhan (32), a resident of Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, Sandeep (23),from Bhawanpur,Uttar Pradesh,Syed Zahed Hasan (40), a resident of Sedam in Kalaburagi district
Explaining the Modus operandi,Investigating officer said that the accused had travelled from Uttar Pradesh to Bengaluru via Delhi and rented a house in the city.
They operated using a car and wore blue uniforms resembling BSNL staff along with white helmets to avoid suspicion.
The gang targeted telecom pillars installed along footpaths in areas including Yeshwanthpur, Malleswaram,Sadashivanagar,and Mattikere.
Using tools such as pickaxes,hammers,screwdrivers, and cutters,they damaged the iron pillars and stole modules and copper cables.
The stolen materials were being transported towards a railway station when the accused were intercepted and arrested.
Police recovered equipment worth around seven lakh rupees from their possession.One more accused believed to be from Uttar Pradesh,is currently absconding,and efforts are underway to trace him.
The arrested accused were produced before a court and remanded to judicial custody.
