3 held in Mahim battery theft case

The Railway Police Force (RPF) has arrested three accused in the Mahim battery theft case that had resulted in around 100 cancellations on June 19. The mastermind behind the theft has been identified as Ashiq, in his early thirties, who had insider details about the railways since he had been previously involved with it on some contractual work.

Ashiq’s associate Abu Hareira helped him transport 18 batteries from Mahim substation and sell them of for Rs 18,000. The buyer of these batteries Anoop Paswan has also been caught while two of his associates are absconding.

Railway officials said that Ashiq’s familiarity with the way the railway department works and the lingo in which the staff talk was one of the reasons how the theft, which needed the accused to drive a jeep through a railway colony at King Circle and reach the substation, was not difficult. “Ashiq has worked as a contractor for a short period of time but it seems like he has made battery theft his speciality,” said Western Railways (WR) RPF senior divisional security commissioner, Anand Vijay Jha.

He further added, “During interrogation, he confessed that he has stolen 110 batteries from both central and western railway in the last two months.”

The investigation has also revealed that the gang had tried to steal the batteries on night of April 29 but were unsuccessful. “Ashiq would sell the batteries to Paswan who had already dismantled 110 batteries. The batteries are usually dismantled and its parts are mixed with others and sold as new batteries altogether. The accused have earned around Rs 50,000 from these 110 batteries,” said Mr Jha.

According to the police, Ashiq also has a two-year-old battery theft case registered against him in Diva.

All the arrested accused have been sent to remand custody until the next hearing.