Interstate scrap theft racket: 4 arrested for stealing 3.6 km of aluminium power conductor

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Odisha Police have arrested four members of an alleged interstate scrap theft syndicate accused of stealing around 3.6 kilometres of 11 kV aluminium conductor from an electricity distribution network in Jharsuguda district, highlighting the growing challenge of organised metal theft targeting power infrastructure.

The arrests were made by Kolabira Police as part of 'Operation Netra', an ongoing drive against organised property crimes. The accused allegedly operated across state borders, targeting aluminium conductors because of their high scrap value and ease of disposal through informal recycling channels.

The accused, Abdul Khyyam (46) of Telibhata, Ashraf Raza (26) of Purunabasti in Jharsuguda, Abdul Rahim (35) of Jharkhand and Ajmail Mir (48) of West Bengal, were arrested following an investigation by Kolabira Police into the theft of electrical aluminium conductors supplying power to rural water supply and lift irrigation projects.

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Police said the four were part of a larger interstate scrap theft syndicate operating across state borders.

During the operation, police recovered a pickup truck, six bundles of stolen aluminium conductors, a wire cutter suspected to have been used in the thefts, and plastic rope from the accused.

The arrests stemmed from a complaint filed by officials of the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (RWSS), Raghunathpali. Investigators subsequently uncovered a series of thefts involving overhead 11 kV aluminium conductors across multiple project sites.

According to the investigation, the gang allegedly stole around 2,000 metres of 11 kV aluminium conductor from the RWSS project