ITANAGAR, Jul 3: The Balijan police have recently arrested three persons in connection with theft cases registered at Balijan PS and have recovered a large cache of stolen goods from their possession including motorcycle, cycle and ornaments..
The recovered stolen include 12 motorbikes, seven bicycles, traditional bead ornaments, motor pumps, livestock, etc. The arrested persons have been identified as Techi Topu (18) and two others.
Papum Pare SP, Dr Neelam Nega in a press briefing at SP Office Yupia informed that on May 9 an FIR regarding theft of a gearless scooter was lodged at the Balijan PS. During the investigation, an input was received that accused Topu might be involved in the incident. However, nothing was concrete about the information.
Meanwhile, another FIR regarding the theft of seven bicycles and a pig was reported and following investigation, accused another allege accused Tem Jakap, (22) was arrested on June 18. During the interrogation, Jakap confessed to the crime and subsequently stolen goods were recovered, informing the SP while adding that accused Topu’s name again came up during the interrogation.
On June 22, Topu was arrested and during investigation it was revealed that he had sold the scooter to one Ajay Sahu (26). While the Balijan police in coordination with its counterpart in Gophur, Assam were making the recovery, a panic among the public ensued and many ran away abandoning the stolen goods that they had purchased, informed the SP.
Many also came forward with information and subsequently 12 motorbikes were recovered from various locations, he added.
The SP informed that Topu is a drug addict and he steals items and sells them at throw away prices to get cash for his drug habits. He informed that as per intelligence inputs, drug addicts are compelled to steal and sell items at throw away prices because as their addiction grows the peddlers raise the prices of contrabands.
He informed that as per their intelligence inputs motorbikes worth lakhs are being stolen and sold for four vials of brown sugar and there are also instances where even vehicles like Mahindra Scorpio are being offered in lieu of a packet of contraband.
SP Nega informed that two cases were registered against the three accused and while Topu is still lodged at District Jail, Jullang, the other two have been released on bail.
“It is a disturbing fact that youths are getting into a vicious circle of drug addiction and theft,” said the SP while appealing to all concerned, especially parents, to monitor the activities and expenditures of their children.
Also urging youths to divert their energy towards a right direction, the SP said that parents also have to create a stress free environment for their wards at home and avoid polygamy or domestic violence which often pushes youths towards addictions.
