Mumbai Police Bust Interstate Copper Cable Theft Gang, 7 Arrested

The Sir J.J. Marg Police in Mumbai have busted an interstate gang involved in stealing underground MTNL copper cables, arresting seven accused and seizing property worth ₹55.13 lakh. The arrests were made in two separate operations on August 2 and August 4.

The accused have been identified as Mohammad Sarwar Mohammad Anwar Ansari, Asif Dildar Sayyed, Azam Fakhruddin Qureshi, Salman Akram Ali Ansari, Sufiyan Fakhruddin Qureshi, Junaid Javed Ahmad, and Mohammad Babloo Mohammad Razi Shaikh. The police action comes amid a rise in thefts of underground cables belonging to MTNL and other telecom service providers, which have disrupted telephone and internet services in the city.

The first operation was conducted on August 2, where a police team raided a location near Berkeley Palace, Railway Colony, and caught two accused red-handed with digging equipment. Two accomplices managed to flee, but one was later tracked down and arrested. The three accused were remanded to police custody till August 6.

In the second operation, conducted on August 4, police received information that a group was cutting MTNL underground cables near Berkeley Palace, Railway Colony. Four accused were found using a cutter to sever the cables and were arrested on the spot. The gang had allegedly brought a JCB excavator to dig up the road and was loading the stolen copper cables into an Eicher tempo.

The police seized several vehicles, including a Tata LPT tempo, Mahindra JCB, and Honda Civic car, as well as 70 metres of stolen copper cable and other equipment. The total value of the seized property is ₹55.13 lakh. Preliminary investigation revealed that the accused allegedly operated in a highly organised manner, using heavy machinery and commercial vehicles to dig up underground telecom cables.

The rise in thefts of underground cables has caused substantial financial losses to the government and disrupted essential communication services. The Mumbai Police Commissioner had directed the police to crack down on organised cable thefts, leading to the focused operation against the gang.

The arrests and seizures are a significant blow to the interstate gang, which is suspected to have operated in multiple states. The police are investigating the gang's network and operations, and further arrests are possible.

The crackdown on cable thefts is a welcome move, as it will help to prevent disruptions to telephone and internet services in the city. The police have urged citizens to report any suspicious activity related to cable thefts, and have assured that strict action will be taken against those involved in such crimes.

The incident highlights the need for increased vigilance and cooperation between the police and citizens to prevent such crimes. The Mumbai Police have appealed to the public to provide information about any suspicious activity, and have promised to take swift action against those involved in cable thefts.

In conclusion, the busting of the interstate copper cable theft gang is a significant achievement for the Mumbai Police, and will help to prevent further disruptions to communication services in the city. The police will continue to investigate and take action against those involved in such crimes, and citizens are urged to cooperate and provide information to help prevent cable thefts.