Youths arrested while stealing MTNL cables

New Delhi, Feb 10 (PTI) Four youths were arrested in thecapital while they were allegedly stealing MTNL cables in theguise of repair work, police said today.

They were apprehended while they were cutting the cablein the manhole near government quarters in Kasturba Nagar onFebruary seven.

The arrested have been identified as Rajender (31), SunilSadhu (24), Shahid (27) and Vijay (26).

"Initially Rajender tried to mislead the police officersby telling that he was working for an MTNL contractor. He wascarrying a file cover to project that he had been tasked toconduct repair work," Ashok Chand, Deputy Commissioner ofPolice (Crime), said.

Sub-Divisional Engineer (Cable), Jor Bagh Exchange, wasthen requested to reach the spot. He came and clarified thatthese people have not been contracted by MTNL and they arecommitting theft of cable following which they were arrested.

Twenty-six feet of stolen MTNL cable were recovered fromthem, police said.

"Rajender, the gang leader, disclosed that he surveyedthe areas to decide where to commit the theft of cable. Thegang then committed the theft between 6 am and 9.30 am.

"He parked his car near the manhole and stood near thecar with a file cover pretending as if he is overseeing thework. The gang opened the manhole and went down while Rajenderstood outside keeping watch.

"They used cutters and saws to cut the heavy cables intosmaller pieces. They then used a chain pulley to pull thecable out. All efforts were made to finish the job before 9.30am," Chand said.

The copper cables were then sold to a scrap dealer inJhandewalan area. He has been identified and efforts are onto apprehend him.

Rajender is allegedly involved in four such similar casesof MTNL cable theft Khajoori Khas, Janakpuri, IP Estate andLodhi Colony. From his ill-gotten gains, he has recentlybought a house in Trilokpuri and a brand new car, claimpolice.

Sunil and Vijay have previous involvement in criminalcases while Shahid has no criminal record. "They used to getRs 1,000 for a day''s work," Chand said.