Police in Tamil Nadu's Kancheepuram district have cracked down on a gang allegedly involved in the systematic theft of batteries from mobile phone towers, arresting four individuals including a Chennai-based scrap dealer. The Sunguvarchatram police station made the arrests on Monday, recovering a significant cache of stolen property.
The Sting Operation and Arrests
Acting on intelligence, the police team apprehended the four accused, who have been identified as R Elumalai (43), S Selvam (24), G Vignesh (29), and M Marilingam (32). The key breakthrough came with the arrest of Marilingam, who owns a scrap shop. Investigations revealed that he provided an auto-rickshaw to the gang specifically for transporting the stolen batteries from the crime scenes to his shop in Chennai.
From the accused, law enforcement officials successfully recovered 34 stolen batteries with an estimated value of ₹5 lakh. The arrests followed a detailed probe into a series of thefts that had plagued the district's telecom infrastructure.
Mastermind and Modus Operandi
Police disclosed that the thefts were orchestrated by a woman named Parvathi, who is currently absconding along with three other gang members. According to officials, Parvathi devised the plan and tasked her family members with executing the thefts.
The gang specifically targeted mobile phone towers located in remote or semi-rural areas. Their spree last week focused on towers in Papankudi, Pillaichatram, Chokandi, and Madamangalam villages. In a short period, they managed to steal nearly 96 batteries, severely disrupting telecom services in these areas.
Aftermath and Ongoing Search
The four arrested individuals have been remanded to judicial custody. The Sunguvarchatram police are continuing their efforts to track down the remaining members of the gang. Parvathi and three others are still at large, and a manhunt is underway.
This case highlights a growing concern over thefts targeting critical telecom infrastructure, which can cause widespread network outages and inconvenience to thousands of users. The police have intensified patrols and surveillance around such vulnerable sites in the district to prevent similar incidents in the future.
