The Faridkot police has claimed to have busted an inter-state allegedly involved in stealing wheat from the godowns of procurement agencies in Punjab and some of its neighbouring states and arrested 11 people.
The members of the gang have confessed to stealing wheat and rice from the godowns of government procurement agencies and of the private firms, Senior Superintendent of Police Faridkot, Raj Bachan Singh Sandhu, said.
According to the SSP, the gang was involved in more than 60 cases in Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan.
Over 600 bags of grain, a light commercial vehicle (LCV), a motorcycle, two pistols and a rifle have been recovered from the accused, the SSP added.
According to the SSP, the gang members were arrested from the canal bridge near Harino village in this district three days back. However, one gang member managed to escape.
The SSP said that during interrogation of the gang members, they confessed to stealing wheat and rice bags from the Faridkot Sadar, Kotkapura and Jaito police station areas.
They also confessed to have stolen wheat bags from the adjoining state of Haryana and Rajasthan.
Giving details of their modus operandi, police said the gang members used to carry out a recce of the godowns during the day and then strike at night.
They would hold the watchmen or guard at the godowns hostage and snatch his mobile phone. Later, the LCV would be used to transport the stolen wheat bags.
One or two gang members would escort the LCV on a motorcycle while carrying the stolen goods, they said.
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