Noida police busts mobile tower theft gang, six arrested

Noida: In a significant operation, the Noida police have busted a gang involved in the theft of high-value radio receiver units from mobile towers across the National Capital Region (NCR). Six individuals, including a former mobile tower employee, were arrested.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Noida) Vidya Sagar Mishra said the Crime Response Team (CRT) and Sector 39 police officials collaborated, acting on intelligence regarding tower thefts in the NCR. The arrested individuals, identified as Asif, Annan, Adil, Irfan Alvi, Kamal Maurya and Fardeen executed meticulous reconnaissance during daylight hours and struck at night.

Among the recovered items were radio receiver sets, each valued at Rs 12 lakh. A total of eight sets were seized during the operation. The arrested individuals have a criminal history spanning mobile tower stations in Delhi NCR, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.

Official sources disclosed that the stolen radio receiver sets with limited domestic manufacturers, found their way to scrap markets before being eventually sent to China through Bangladesh and Nepal. The sets underwent refurbishment and re-entered Indian markets as brand-new items.

Legal proceedings are currently underway with an FIR lodged at Sector 39 police station under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.

(with PTI inputs)