2 gangs of vehicle lifters busted, 9 held

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, June 12

The city police have busted two gangs of vehicle lifters by arresting nine persons and recovering 25 two-wheelers from their possession. However, two accused are absconding.

SP (City) Gurmeet Singh and police officials of the CIA-1 and CIA-2 wings of Bathinda shared the information during a press conference on Tuesday.

According to the police, both gangs had been operating in and around Bathinda for over a year. The police said after receiving inputs, a trap was laid to nab them.

Of 25 vehicles stolen by the gangs, 19 are motorcycles and six are Activa scooters.

Talking to mediapersons, Superintendent of Police (SP) Gurmeet Singh said, “In the first case, the police have recovered seven two-wheelers and arrested four persons of a vehicle lifters’ gang while one accused is at large. On June 10, after getting a tip-off, we managed to nab all four accused near Jassi Pau Wali chowk when they were coming towards Bathinda city from Kot Shamir side on two motorcycles.”

The accused have been identified as Gagan Singh and Jagdeep Singh of Kaile Wander village, Harjit Singh from Kot Shamir and Gurpreet Singh from Pakka Kalan village.

“The accused would steal vehicles from different places in the district and sell these on cheaper rates after putting up fake number plates. The accused wanted to make easy money so that they could splurge it on buying drugs and other intoxicants,” Gurmeet Singh added.

Three motorcycles were recovered from Gurpreet Singh’s house, two from Gagan Singh and two bikes on which they were riding.

In the second case, 12 motorcycles and six Activa scooters were recovered by the police after the arrest of five persons.

Two Activa scooters were recovered from Bhupinder Kumar, three from Raj Kumar’s house, three motorcycles from Gurpyar Singh, three from Gurdev Singh and five motorcycles were recovered from Gurpreet Singh.

Four persons were apprehended by the police while they were riding a motorcycle and Active scooter with a plan to lift vehicles from near the Mittal Mall area.

Sindhbaj, one of the accused, is absconding and police have launched a manhunt to nab him.