Pantheeramkavu police have busted an organized theft ring targeting national highway construction sites in Kozhikode. The main accused, Munwar Ali, and his accomplices, including four others from Assam, have allegedly made over Rs1 crore by selling stolen construction materials.
The operation was uncovered during a routine patrol on Sunday morning, when officers discovered a cycle rickshaw loaded with stolen materials. Upon further investigation, the police arrested Munwar Ali, Nilan, Aymar Ali, Moyman Ali, and Rahna. Authorities found a rented godown used by the gang, containing construction materials worth approximately Rs9 lakh.
The gang had been stealing materials like metal rods, sand, concrete, and stone chips from various construction sites. They used a lorry to transport materials valued at Rs1 crore just a day before their arrest. Police have urged construction companies involved in the highway project to enhance security measures to protect their materials.
Locals had observed the group hauling materials from under-construction sites and selling them to scrap dealers. “We had informed the police, but we never imagined the scale of the theft,” said a local resident.