In a significant breakthrough, the Jammu and Kashmir Police have cracked down on an interstate gang of thieves, successfully recovering stolen gold and silver ornaments worth a staggering Rs 5 lakhs from Jammu district.
The operation unfolded following a complaint lodged at PS Kanachak regarding a theft where valuable items, including a golden chain, two golden rings, and Rs 25,000 in cash, were stolen from a residence.
Acting swiftly, a special police team, led by SDPO Domana Vishal Shoor and assisted by SHO PS Kanachak Inspr Tribhuvan Khajuria, embarked on a meticulous investigation. Their efforts culminated in the apprehension of a prime suspect, Lovedeep Singh S/o Devinder Singh R/o Khichian Tehsil Mukerian.
Under interrogation, Lovedeep Singh confessed his involvement in the theft and implicated three accomplices: Pankaj S/o Kartar Chand R/o Fattwal Tehsil Mukerian Distt. Hoshiarpur, Jimmy Kumar S/o Joginder Singh R/o Muerian Distt. Hoshiarpur, and Manjeet Singh S/o Swaran Singh R/o Vill. Bopor Teshsil Khour Distt. Subsequently, all four individuals were arrested.
Further investigations revealed the gang’s involvement in another theft incident in village Karloop of Tehsil Marh. The stolen ornaments were traced to a goldsmith, Prince Khanna S/o Pritam Lal Khanna R/o Raja Bazar Akhnoor Jammu. Khanna, too, was arrested, and the stolen items, comprising 8 tollas of gold and 10 tollas of silver, were retrieved from his possession.
The recovered items included the golden chain and golden rings from the initial theft case, along with an additional golden chain, a golden Haar Set, a golden pair of earrings, two pairs of silver anklets, and a set of silver kada.
A separate FIR No. 70/2023 U/S 457/380/IPC was registered at PS Kana Chak Jammu in connection with the goldsmith’s involvement.
The arrested individuals turned out to be seasoned criminals, operating as an interstate gang across Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab. Their criminal records revealed involvement in several theft cases registered in Punjab:
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FIR No. 143/2016 U/S 454/380/IPC PS MUKERIAN PUNJAB
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FIR No. 71/2018 U/S 379/411/482/IPC PS MUKERIAN PUNJAB
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FIR No. 104/2021 U/S 454/380/IPC PS MUKERIAN PUNJAB
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FIR No. 10/2023 U/S 457/380/IPC PS MUKERIAN PUNJAB
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FIR No. 110/2023 U/S 457/380/IPC PS MUKERIAN PUNJAB
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FIR No. 118/2023 U/S 454/380/IPC PS MUKERIAN PUNJAB
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FIR No. 34/2023 U/S 454/380/IPC PS TALWARA PUNJAB
The successful operation was orchestrated under the supervision of SP Rural Rahul Charak. Further investigations are underway to uncover any additional crimes linked to the gang’s activities.
