Times News NetworkKanpur: Police busted an inter-district gang of vehicle thieves after four bikes were stolen in a single day from the Naubasta police station area. The police arrested three accused and recovered 13 stolen vehicles, including nine bikes and two scooties found in a jungle near the COD drain where the gang allegedly hid stolen vehicles. Joint police commissioner (Headquarters and Crime) Sankalp Sharma said that on Thursday, police received information about four vehicles being stolen one after another from the Naubasta police station area, following which the police began searching for the accused. On Sunday evening, police conducted vehicle checks at Yashoda Nagar Chauraha. Police then received information that two youths riding a white scooter without a number plate were heading from Kidwai Nagar towards Virat Nagar and that the scooter was also stolen. Police cordoned off the area near COD drain and signalled the scooter-borne youths to stop, upon which both attempted to flee. Police tightened the cordon and apprehended both youths. During interrogation, the accused identified themselves as Mohd. Saleem, a resident of Chakeri, and Shanu, a resident of Gangaghat, Unnao. Police checked the scooter’s chassis number on the e-challan App, which revealed that the scooter had been stolen from Naubasta. During interrogation, the accused confessed to multiple vehicle theft incidents. Accused Saleem stated that he used to sell stolen vehicles to his associates Shanu and Wajid. Subsequently, the police arrested Wajid Beg, a resident of Jajmau, based on leads provided by Saleem and Shanu. The police investigation revealed that bike mechanic Wajid was engaged in dismantling stolen vehicles, while scrap dealer Shanu was responsible for selling the stolen parts. Based on Shanu’s leads, police recovered stolen bike parts from his residence. Police said the accused used to strip stolen vehicles for parts and sell them. After stealing, the accused would hide the vehicles in a jungle near the COD drain. Police also recovered nine bikes and two scooties from the jungle. The joint police commissioner stated that Saleem, a member of the gang, carried out the vehicle thefts. Recovered from the accused were Rs 7,540 in cash, nine bikes, two scooties, two loose engines, two petrol tanks, and other parts. Saleem already has nine cases registered against him at Chakeri, Naubasta, and Sen Paschim Para police stations, while Shanu has two prior cases registered against him at Naubasta.
