Major breakthrough under Project 'Nigrani 24/7'

Malerkotla, December 25, 2023: In a significant achievement, Malerkotla Police successfully apprehended 14 notorious thieves involved in multiple cases of theft and recovered stolen property worth several lakh rupees.

The arrested individuals are identified as Mohammad Irfan alias Fani, Abdul Majid AKA Butta, Muhammad Arif alias Midi, Muhammad Suheb alias Mani, Muhammad Arif alias Middi, Mohammed Suheb aka Mani, Rajbeer Singh, Mohd Bondu, Rashwinder Rishi, Mohd Qasim, Mohd Faisal, Usman Ali, Mohd Bilal, and Mohd Shamshad. Police have also named 4 other accused - Saqib, Usman Ali, Haroon, and Mohd Jameel, who are currently absconding. They have been apprehended in connection with various theft cases reported in Malerkotla.

Providing further details to the press media, Senior Superintendent of Police Malerkotla, Harkamal Preet Singh Khakh, highlighted the formation of special police teams under Project Nigrani 24*7. These teams, supervised by Gazetted rank officers, are working tirelessly to control incidents of theft and other petty crimes, ensuring public safety and security.

The arrests follow investigations into five separate theft cases reported at police stations Amargarh, Sadar, Ahmedgarh, City 1 Malerkotla, and City 2 Malerkotla. These cases include thefts of agricultural equipment, stolen steel rings from a National Highway construction site, and the disappearance of a motorcycle.

In the first case, a farmer reported the theft of a motor and tractor battery from his field. The investigation led to the identification of the thieves, including Mohammad Irfan alias Fani, Abdul Majid AKA Butta, Muhammad Arif alias Midi, and Muhammad Suheb alias Mani.

The second case involved the theft of steel rings, reported by a contractor for the National Highway project. The complaint highlighted the disappearance of 8-10 tons of steel, which was later traced to a vehicle parked in a secluded place near HP Petrol Pump, bearing registration number PB-10HU-5974. The individuals involved in this case are Ganes, Ravi Kabaria, and Ambarsaria.

The third case revolves around the theft of a motorcycle belonging to Robin, a private employee, reported missing recently, with registration number PB28G3863. The accused were nabbed based on a complaint filed by Mohd Imran, a resident of Saharanpur, whose motorcycle was stolen. The police team led by SHO City 2 has successfully recovered 14 stolen motorcycles and 7 mobile phones linked to the group's criminal activities.

In another incident, the accused Manpreet Singh alias Mani and Jasveer Singh attempted a theft at a residence in Mohammadgarh. Taking advantage of an unlocked gate, they, along with an accomplice, fled on a motorcycle carrying a stolen iron geyser. Following an investigation, Manpreet Singh and Halim Muhammad were arrested. The recovery includes the seized motorcycle with registration number PB23V1564. The case is registered under Section 457 and 380 of the IPC at Amargarh police station.

The arrested accused have been booked, including sections 379 IPC at the aforementioned police stations.

The arrested accused will be produced in the local court, and their remand will be taken to further investigate the cases. Currently, police teams are conducting raids as more arrests are likely.

SSP Khakh affirmed that crime will not be tolerated in district Malerkotla, and the offenders will be dealt with firmly.