In a major breakthrough, Assam Police have arrested seven individuals in connection with the theft of 1,560 bags of wheat, worth Rs32 lakh, which occurred in November. The stolen goods were en route to Imphal, Manipur, when the incident took place.
The theft occurred on November 5, after the wheat was loaded at the Azara Railway Yard by Shree Agro Food Products LLP. The wheat was intended for delivery to Imphal but was stolen during transit. The theft came to light when a complaint was filed by Dwipen Medhi on November 22 at Azara Police Station, triggering a full-fledged investigation by the police.
According to the First Information Report (FIR), the wheat was loaded onto two trucks, bearing registration numbers AS-02-DC-0139 and AS-31-C-1038. Due to poor road conditions in Manipur, the trucks were temporarily parked at a petrol pump in Nagaon. However, instead of completing the delivery to Imphal, the drivers, in collusion with other accomplices, diverted the consignment and carried out the theft.
The police have apprehended several key suspects, including Sakir Alom and Rushmat Ali, the drivers of the trucks, along with their accomplices Anuwar Uddin and Diluwar Hussain, who served as handymen. Also arrested are Shyamal Debnath, an associate of the primary mastermind, and Laxmi Kant Thathera, the manager of Kuber Roller Flour Mill in Bokakhat, Golaghat, where part of the stolen wheat was found. Binoy Pathak, the supervisor of the same flour mill, has also been taken into custody.
The police have successfully recovered 780 bags of the stolen wheat from the Kuber Roller Flour Mill. Additionally, the two trucks involved in the theft were seized from the Margherita area in Tinsukia district. Despite this, another 780 bags remain missing, and the authorities are continuing their search for the rest of the stolen consignment.
Police officials have confirmed that 3-4 more individuals are suspected to be involved in the theft and are currently absconding. Efforts are underway to apprehend these individuals and recover the remaining stolen goods.
