Absconding two members of inter-state gang arrested

Dharamshala, Mar 18 (UNI) Two members of an inter-state gang of car lifters, who had escaped from police custody in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday, have been arrested and several stolen vehicles recovered, district ASP Santosh Patial today claimed.

Addressing a press conference here, he said Prince and Rajesh, both cousins, were arrested from a cowshed in Rajot village in Baijnath sub division of the district early today.

Mr Patial said 11-member inter state gang was arrested on two different occasions in the last three weeks and four tractors, three motorcycles, one Scorpio jeep and one Indica car recovered from their hideouts.

The gang was active in the neighbouring states of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, he said, adding it was specifically targeting Kangra, Mandi, Bilaspur and Shimla districts of the state.

Replying to a question, he did not rule out the hand of the gang in the theft of State Transport and Tourism Minister G S Bali official vehicle and said investigations were on and more vehicles were likely to be recovered.

He said while both Prince and Rajesh were residents of Himachal, nine other members were from the neighbouring state of Punjab.

A case has been registered and investigations were on, he added.

UNI