B.Sridhar/TNNJamshedpur: The West Singhbhum police have busted an inter-state motorcycle theft gang by arresting two suspects and recovering 20 stolen motorbikes valued at Rs 25 lakh. Three of the recovered vehicles carried Odisha registration plates.The operation was detailed on Tuesday by Kiriburu SDPO Vinit Kumar Kindo.Acting on a tip-off, a joint team from the Noamundi, Kiriburu, and Badajamda police stations collaborated with the Jamshedpur police to apprehend Sonu Lohara (20), alias Bhola, in Dukasai village, the SDPO said.Bhola, a resident of Birsanagar in Jamshedpur, was spotted riding a stolen motorcycle in Kiriburu with the intention of selling it.Following his arrest, police recovered 14 stolen bikes based on his confession—five from Dukasai under Kiriburu police jurisdiction and nine from Tontogada under Chotanagar police jurisdiction.Bhola’s interrogation led police to the arrest of Raj Purty (23), a resident of Tontogada. Purty was arrested from his home, leading to the recovery of six additional stolen motorcycles hidden in Tatiba under Kiriburu police jurisdiction.Both suspects have been remanded to judicial custody on Tuesday.The SDPO said, “Because three vehicles bore Odisha license plates, the syndicate seems to be operating across the state borders. Further probe is underway and more arrests and recovery are likely soon.”
