Police arrest 8 stealing rice from government godown

Ludhiana: Eight people were arrested by the Ludhiana rural police on Saturday evening stealing eighteen thousand kilograms of rice from a government owned godown in Malak village of Jagraon. Five have however managed to escape. The have been identified as residents of Ajitwal of Moga district in Bihar. The arrested include Anil Kumar, Sunil Kumar, Krishan Kumar, Ghanshyam Kumar, Mantu Kumar, Indal, Shyam Kumar.
SSP Ludhiana rural Varinder Singh Brar said that in view of the upcoming parliamentary elections, a special drive to nab anti social elements has been going on. He added after a specific tip off, a team of police officials reached the check post at Pul Drain Malak road in Jagraon and they were able to nab the accused who were about to flee after the theft. The godown is under the care of a private company called ORGIO.
Brar said that the from the information that was available the theft of rice was a frequent feature and it was happening with the knowledge and understanding between company workers and the factory incharge. Harpreet Singh Harry, incharge of the Godown, Jagjit Singh Jaggi of Kuliwal Jamalpur, Rahul of Guru Nanak Nagar Jagraon, Gurpreet Singh of Chimna were known to be habitual offenders and were stealing rice from the godown to be selling it at a higher price in the commercial market. The SSP said that though Rahul was already thrown out of the job but he helped others in the system on how to operate. Police officials said that as per the tip off, all of them were going to sell the stolen rice loaded in truck bearing registration number PB03KU-9293. They added that truck was sent to the godown by Rahul’s father who is a munshi at R.K Rise Mill in Ajitwal. He had also sent laboruers who are now behind bars. Police officer said that after registering case against the accused under sections 379 (theft), 411 (Dishonestly receiving stolen property), 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of Indian Penal Code (IPC) at Sadar Jagraon police station. He added that during search conducted in the truck 360 bags weighing 50 kg each was recovered. Those who managed to escape have been identified as Harpreet Singh Harry of Bagh Kheta Ram Jagraon, Jagjit Singh, Gurpreet Singh , Rahul and his father Fozdar. DSP Dilbagh Singh however said that they had launched manhunt to arrest the accused who are on the run. He said once those on the run would be arrested they would be able to trace the trail of where the rice was being sold once it was being stolen from the government godown.