SIT Recovers 33 Mobile Phones and Two Stolen Scooters in Raid Near MGM
Key Points:
- Special team nabs five accused near MGM Hospital on SSP’s directions
- Police recover 33 phones, jewelry and two stolen scooters from gang
- Accused confess to multiple theft and snatching cases across the city
JAMSHEDPUR – City police have arrested five members of an alleged theft and snatching gang after a special investigation team acted on a tip-off about criminals gathering near MGM Hospital.
The team, formed on the directions of Senior Superintendent of Police Ehtesham Waqarib, recovered several stolen items along with 33 mobile phones and two stolen scooters from the accused.
However, police said they had received information that a group of criminals was assembling near the hospital to plan fresh theft and snatching incidents. Acting on the tip, a team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police, Patamda, Dayanand Kumar cordoned off the area around the hospital premises and apprehended the five men.
The arrested accused were identified as Tushar Kalindi alias Tushar Bhai and Sunny Kalindi alias Nandu, both residents of Bagunhatu, along with Lakshman Bagti, Akash Dutta alias Chepa and Sawan Devgam alias Bachcha.
Meanwhile, during questioning, the accused admitted their involvement in a string of organised thefts and snatchings across several police station areas of the city, including thefts of mobile phones, purses, motorcycles, scooters and gold chains.
Based on their disclosures, police said they had solved six separate cases registered at the MGM police station. The recovered property includes a pearl necklace with a gold locket snatched from a woman, two mobile phones stolen from MGM Hospital, cash lifted through pickpocketing, and an Activa scooter stolen from the hospital parking area. A Yamaha Fascino scooter stolen from the Mango bus stand in the Sitaramdera police station area was also recovered.
Besides the 33 phones, which include iPhone, Vivo, Oppo, Realme and Samsung handsets, officers seized a gold locket, a silver necklace, a silver chain and earrings among other jewelry. A Splendor Plus motorcycle used in the crimes and two stolen scooters were also confiscated.
“Some of those arrested already have prior criminal records, and we are working to trace the rightful owners of all the recovered items,” a police officer associated with the investigation said, noting that Akash Dutta and Sawan Devgam had previously figured in theft, NDPS and other criminal cases.
In addition, all five accused have been sent for further legal proceedings under judicial custody. The action follows a series of recent crackdowns in the city, including the arrest of a bike-lifter gang in an earlier operation and the recovery of hundreds of stolen phones returned to owners under Operation Muskan.
On the other hand, SSP Ehtesham Waqarib said the crackdown on crime in the city would continue, with strict action to follow against anyone found disturbing law and order.
