Pusaur police? No—action carried out by Punjipathra Police in six separate cases; vehicles allegedly being used to transport scrap for consumption at local plants
Raigarh : Raigarh Police have seized 129.840 tonnes of iron, tin and other scrap material along with six vehicles in six separate actions carried out under Operation Prahar against the suspected illegal scrap trade.
According to police, the seized scrap is valued at approximately ₹53.60 lakh, while the six seized trucks and a Mazda vehicle are estimated to be worth around ₹68 lakh. The total value of the seized property is therefore estimated at approximately ₹1.21 crore.
The action was carried out by Punjipathra Police as part of an ongoing drive to curb theft-related offences and prevent the purchase, transportation and consumption of suspected stolen material.
Police said the vehicles were intercepted while allegedly transporting scrap towards industrial plants in the area. The drivers were asked to produce documents establishing the source and legal transportation of the material, but satisfactory documentation was reportedly not produced.
23.990 Tonnes of Scrap Seized Near Scania Plant
In the first action, police intercepted a 14-wheel truck bearing registration number UP63AT2054 near the Scania plant on Raigarh Road following information received from an informant.
According to police, the truck was carrying different types of tin, iron pieces, rods and vehicle parts weighing approximately 23.990 tonnes. The scrap was valued at around ₹8.49 lakh, while the truck was estimated to be worth approximately ₹15 lakh.
The driver was identified by police as Rakesh Giri, 32, a resident of Gosaipur under Rampur police station in Jaunpur district of Uttar Pradesh.
During questioning, police said Giri stated that the scrap had been loaded in Surguja and was being transported to a plant for disposal. However, he allegedly failed to produce the required documents relating to the scrap and its transportation.
Police also contacted the concerned plant, but reportedly did not receive an entry order or other documents supporting the consignment.
Based on the circumstances and suspicion that the material could be stolen property, police seized the truck and scrap and initiated legal proceedings against the driver under Section 35(a)(d) of the BNSS and Section 303(2) of the BNS, as stated by the police.
Sub-Inspector Dilip Behera and other police personnel played a key role in the action.
Five More Vehicles Intercepted at Punjipathra-Tamnar Chowk
In another operation, Punjipathra Police set up a blockade at the Punjipathra-Tamnar Chowk after receiving information that several vehicles were allegedly transporting large quantities of iron and tin scrap towards industrial plants.
Five vehicles were stopped and searched. Police reported recovering different types of tin, iron pieces, rods, vehicle parts and other scrap material from the vehicles.
The vehicle-wise seizures were as follows:
| Vehicle | Driver | Scrap Seized | Approx. Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| CG14MF0223, 14-wheel truck | Jahangir Ansari, 49 | 18.350 tonnes | ₹7,70,700 |
| OD05R7085, 12-wheel truck | Manish Kumar, 23 | 24.830 tonnes | ₹10,54,778 |
| CG22U3873, 6-wheel Mazda | Abhimanyu Sahu, 42 | 13.040 tonnes | ₹5,77,020 |
| OD29D4325, 12-wheel truck | Avinash Kumar, 37 | 25.510 tonnes | ₹10,83,665 |
| OD19C4666, 12-wheel truck | Rakesh Kumar, 33 | 24.120 tonnes | ₹10,24,618 |
| Total | — | 105.850 tonnes | Approx. ₹45.10 lakh |
Police said the drivers of the five vehicles were residents of different districts in Jharkhand, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Odisha.
Total Seizure Crosses ₹1.21 Crore
Combining the six separate actions, Punjipathra Police reported the seizure of:
- 129.840 tonnes of scrap
- Scrap valued at approximately ₹53.60 lakh
- Six vehicles
- Vehicles valued at approximately ₹68 lakh
- Total seizure value: approximately ₹1.21 crore
Police said the investigation will continue to establish the source of the scrap, its transportation route and its intended destination or possible consumption at industrial plants.
Action Conducted Under Senior Officers’ Supervision
The operation was conducted under the direction of Raigarh SSP Shashi Mohan Singh, with guidance from Additional SP Anil Soni and supervision by DSP Sushanto Banerjee.
The operation was led by Punjipathra Police Station in-charge Inspector Ramkinkar Yadav.
Sub-Inspector Dilip Behera, ASI Umashankar Biswal, Head Constables Gajendra Painkra and Rajkumar Painkra, and Constables Hemsagar Sagar, Adikand Pradhan and Vinay Tiwari also played important roles in the action, according to police.
SSP Warns Against Transport of Undocumented Scrap
SSP Shashi Mohan Singh said the police would continue monitoring the suspected illegal scrap trade under Operation Prahar, particularly activities involving the alleged disposal of stolen property and transportation of scrap without valid documentation.
He said police would also examine the role of vehicle owners, transporters and persons associated with the potential consumption of such material in cases where suspicious scrap is detected.
The police have said that further investigation is underway into the source and movement of the seized scrap.
