Scorpio Vehicle Also Recovered; Three Accused Including Raja Hembram Still at Large
Key Points:
- Gamharia police arrest four red-handed near Tata Steel boundary on May 22
- Around 10 tonnes of stolen iron scrap worth approximately Rs 2 lakh seized
- Three named accused Raja Hembram, Vishal Gorai, Prakash Soren remain absconding
SERAIKELA — Seraikela district’s Gamharia police have busted a large-scale iron scrap theft operation targeting Tata Steel, arresting four accused red-handed and seizing approximately 10 tonnes of stolen scrap worth around Rs 2 lakh, along with a white Mahindra Scorpio vehicle used in the crime.
Acting on a tip-off received on May 22, police were informed that a gang had been stealing iron scrap in large quantities from Tata Steel’s Gamharia unit and stockpiling it near the Jhargobindpur railway crossing. The gang members were reportedly preparing to load the scrap onto vehicles and dispatch it outside the area.
On the directions of the Superintendent of Police, a raiding party was swiftly constituted under the leadership of Seraikela Sub-Divisional Police Officer Anubhav Bhardwaj. The team moved quickly and conducted a raid near the Tata Steel boundary wall.
During the raid, police arrested Nishant Kumar Pandey, Nabin Pramanik, Tushar Kumar Mahato, and Amit Kumar Yadav in the act of committing the theft. A white Mahindra Scorpio bearing registration number JH05EH 2727 was recovered from the spot. The vehicle had approximately half a tonne of iron scrap loaded on it. In addition, around 10 tonnes of stolen iron scrap was seized from the location.
A case has been registered at Gamharia police station under case number 46/26, invoking various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Meanwhile, raids are continuing for the gang’s key associates, identified as Raja Hembram, Vishal Gorai, and Prakash Soren, along with other unidentified accused.
SDPO Anubhav Bhardwaj said that police maintain constant surveillance on theft and illegal activities in industrial areas. He added that strict action would be taken against the gang involved in stealing scrap from Tata Steel, and that a continuous campaign was under way to arrest the absconding accused. He appealed to the public to report any suspicious activity to police immediately to enable effective control over crime.
