Suspect Arrested in Gujarat for Stealing Power Cables

Valsad, October 20 (Daily Kiran) : A 22-year-old man was arrested in Valsad, Gujarat, on Tuesday for his alleged involvement in two cases of power cable theft. The incidents involved the theft of approximately 2.2 kilometers of aluminum conductor wire, valued at ₹91,672, from existing power lines.

The suspect, identified as Rakesh Varli, hails from Punat village in the Umargam taluka and works as a driver. He was apprehended by the Valsad Local Crime Branch (LCB) near a market on Sarigam Three Roads.

During questioning, Varli confessed to his role in both thefts, and he has since been handed over to the Sarigam police station for further investigation.

In the first incident, approximately 1,080 meters of aluminum wire was stolen from 12 spans of power lines near a canal in Patel Faliya and Dungarpada in Umargam taluka. This theft occurred on September 1 and 3 in the Sarigam rural sub-division, with the stolen wire valued at ₹44,298. A case has been registered at the Sarigam police station.

The second theft took place near the Radha Krishna Gaushala in Kangalaw Faliya, Umargam taluka, where around 1,155 meters of 55 square millimeter all-aluminum conductor wire was taken from a power line spanning 10 poles. This wire was valued at ₹47,374, and a report has been filed at the Umargam Marine police station.

Following these thefts, police teams were formed under the directives of Surat Range Inspector General of Police (IGP) Prem Veer Singh and Valsad Superintendent of Police (SP) Yuvrajsinh Jadeja.

Under the supervision of LCB Inspector A.U. Roz, teams led by Sub-Inspector J.B. Dhanesha reviewed CCTV footage from the crime scenes and conducted technical analysis. The breakthrough came when Assistant Sub-Inspector Ajay Amalabhai received information about a gang involved in cutting and stealing wires from power poles. This led to the arrest of Varli, and the investigation is ongoing.