Abid Bashir
Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir police today busted a mobile phone theft racket in Srinagar and arrested three persons, all residents of Delhi while recovering stolen phones worth Rs 25 lakh from them.
Addressing a press conference at District Police Office (DPO) Srinagar, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Srinagar Dr Haseeb Mughal said that on July 4, a complaint was received by the police station Nowhatta, Srinagar about theft in a mobile shot. “The thieves had cut the shutter of the shop in the dead of the night and stole mobile phones worth lakhs,” the Srinagar police chief said.
He said when investigation was taken up, CCTV footage was obtained but no clues were found. “After almost two months of investigations, we found no clue other than the one that rag pickers were roaming in the area. This was the only clue,” said SSP Srinagar.
He said that after analysing towers and other electronic surveillance, it was found that one of the stolen mobile phones was switched on in New Delhi. “Simultaneously, a police team from north zone (Srinagar) was sent to Delhi and they arrested one person Abdur Razak from JJ Colony Bawana and 112 stolen mobiles were recovered from his possession.
“Razak was shifted to Srinagar and after questioning him, he named two more persons who are also from Delhi but were working in Anantnag district as labourers. The three were acting as ragpickers, and had done recce in Nowhatta. They were waiting for the arrival of consignments of mobiles and then steal from the same shop,” the SSP Srinagar said.
He said that Delhi Police has also helped in the arrest of the trio. “The arrest of two persons from Anantnag who are also Delhi residents led to recovery of 11 more stolen mobiles,” Dr Mughal said.
He said that in total, Rs 25 lakh worth mobiles were recovered and three persons, all belonging to Delhi were arrested. “The investigation is on and more arrests are likely to be made,” the SSP said, adding that traders should take precautions while receiving consignments and watch out for a suspect in their vicinity.
-ARK
