CURATED BY – YASHPAL SINGH JAT | CITYCHIEFNEWS

Anuppur, Kotwali police busted a motorcycle thief gang and seized 8 stolen motorcycles worth Rs. 5 lakh and arrested 6 accused.
Police force in plain clothes was daeployed by Kotwali police for vigilance at identified places where motorcycles are stolen, such as near the station us paar overbridge and station road market, along with monitoring the CCTV cameras installed nearby. After gathering information with the help of cameras and cyber cell, the kingpin of the motorcycle thieves gang, Rakesh Kumar Panika, father Tulsi Panika, age 43 years, resident of Bhogradtola, Deori Dhangawan police station Budhar district Shahdol, was caught roaming in suspicious condition near railway station Anuppur in search of stolen motorcycles. Upon questioning, the accused told that in the past one year he had stolen 08 motorcycles from Anuppur and sold them to various people in district Shahdol at cheap rates. Which was recovered by the police in crime number 342/24 section 303(2) BNS of police station Kotwali Anuppur, dated 08.07.2024, near the railway line across the overbridge, a motorcycle Honda City 100 MP stolen from Akash Kumar Kol, father Shyamlal Kol, age 24 years, resident of village Chhulaha. 18 MQ 4529 was seized from Basantu alias Satendra Dahiya father Jagdish Dahiya age 37 years resident of Dhanpuri police station Dhanpuri district Shahdol. In crime number 402/24 section 379 IPC of police station Kotwali Anuppur, on 14.06.2024, near Anuppur railway station overbridge, Honda Sign motor cycle MP 65 MC 9547 of Mrs. Prabha Lakra wife of late Abnejar Tigga age 39 years resident of village Taradan was seized from Lala Varman father Ram Prasad Varman age 40 years resident of Budhar district Shahdol. In crime number 038/24 section 379 IPC of police post GRP Anuppur. In this case, on 24.06.24, HF Deluxe Motor Cycle MP65MC 7742 of Rajkumar Kewat s/o Mohan Kewat age 19 years, pointsman, Jaithari Railway Station was seized from under the bridge in front of Railway Panel Room near Railway Station Jaithari Railway Station. HF Deluxe Motor Cycle MP65MC 7742 of Shivkumar Sahu s/o Bisahu Sahu age 55 years, resident of Amalai Police Station Amalai District Shahdol was seized. In Crime No. 315/24 Section 303(2) BNS of Police Station Jaithari Anuppur, on 22.07.24, Motor Cycle Hero Honda Splendor MP of Dinesh Singh Rathore s/o Hemsai Rathore age 32 years, resident of Keontar Jaithari was seized from Jaithari in front of the stage of Mini Stadium Ground. 65 MC 6683 was seized from Kashiram Singh father Gorelal Singh age 34 years resident of Hard police station Bhalumaada. Along with this, a red colour Hero Passion motorcycle stolen by accused gang leader Rakesh Kumar Panika, whose engine number and chassis number had been erased, was seized from Rakesh Chaudhari father Shyamlal Chaudhari age 26 years resident of Budhar district Shahodal. Three other motorcycles HF Deluxe MP 65 MC 7742, Hero Splendor MP 65 MC 6683 and a black colour Hero company's motorcycle without number were seized from main accused Rakesh Kumar Panika under sections 35 (1) D BNSS / 303 (2), 327 (2) BNSS. All the arrested accused have been taken on police remand and are being questioned in other cases of motorcycle theft.

He used to steal motorcycles with the help of master keys. During interrogation, the main accused Rakesh Panika told the police that he used to steal the motorcycles parked near the railway station by opening them with the help of master keys. For this, he used to roam around the railway station and whenever a person used to park his motorcycle on the other side of the railway station and go to the railway station, he used to steal the motorcycle after getting the opportunity.

The motorcycle mechanic used to provide the main support in the crime. During interrogation of the thieves' gang by the police, it has been revealed that the main accused Rakesh Panika used to park the motorcycles in the garage of mechanic Lala Varman resident Budhar in the name of repairs so that he would not be caught after stealing the motorcycles and later, when he got the opportunity, he used to sell the motorcycles at a cheap price of five thousand rupees. The main accused gang leader is a habitual criminal of Shahdol district. Upon interrogation by the police it was revealed that the main accused gang leader Rakesh Panika is a habitual criminal in cases of kidnapping, rape and fraud of Police Station Sohagpur of District Shahdol, who has been continuously committing crimes involving motorcycles. Superintendent of Police Anuppur Moti ur Rehman has announced that TI Kotwali Inspector Arvind Jain and his team will be rewarded for busting the motorcycle thieves gang and confiscating eight stolen motorcycles worth five lakh rupees and arresting six accused.