Police crack Lakkar Bazar theft

Mohit Khanna

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, March 20

With the arrest of three persons, including a father-son duo, the city police have claimed to have cracked the sensational Rs 11 lakh theft that took place at the house of a businessman at Lakkar Bazar on January 27.

The accused have been identified as Ganga, his father Ram Bahadur and Inder Bika. They are of Napalese origin. They had fled the city after committing the theft.

Addressing a press conference, ADCP Joginder Singh said Rs 4 lakh and jewellery worth Rs 2.5 lakh had been recovered from the accused.

He said the accused would be questioned to find out how many thefts they had committed.

Ramneesh Chaudhary, ACP- North, said efforts were on to nab Manoj Bika and Surinder Bika, who managed to enter Nepal.

Dharampal, SHO of the Division No. 1 police station, said it was on the night of January 27 when Ganga, Ram Bahadur, Surinder Bika and Manoj broke into the house of Gaurav Singla and decamped with cash and gold ornaments worth Rs 11 lakh.

It came to light that Inder Bika had worked as a domestic help at Singla’s house nearly a year ago.

The police carried out a raid at migrant quarters where Inder lived. However, they came to know that Inder had been out of the town for nearly a month. The police also learnt that Inder was usually spotted with his friend Ganga.

The police carried out a raid at Ganga’s house. They learnt that on January 28, a day after the theft, Ganga had left for Mumbai.

Soon, a police team visited Mumbai and nabbed Ganga with Rs 4 lakh stolen from the house. After arresting Ganga’s father, Ram Bahadur, the police nabbed Inder and recovered the stolen jewellery worth Rs 2.5 lakh.

The SHO, Dharampal, said Inder, who had worked as a domestic help at Gaurav Singla’s house, planned the theft.

Though he did not accompany the accused on the day of theft, he provided them with all information about the house. 

On January 27, Surinder, Manoj, Ganga and his father Ram Bahadur entered the house when Gaurav Singla was away to attend a function. While the accused were busy stealing valuables, Gaurav returned to the house and called for his domestic help Chottu on seeing

the doors open. Chottu woke up and rushed downstairs. He was shocked to find the thieves stealing valuables.

Chotu raised the alarm and even hit one of the thieves with a stick but the accused managed to escape.

The ADCP said the rest of the stolen amount would be recovered soon.

He stressed before hiring a domestic help, residents should get their verification done by the police.