District Police, Leh Arrest Six Suspects Linked to Service Weapon Theft and Multiple House Theft Cases

District Police, Leh Arrest Six Suspects Linked to Service Weapon Theft and Multiple House Theft Cases

October 5th, 2023, Leh: District Police, Leh successfully cracked a series of theft cases, including the theft of a service weapon, and apprehended six suspects while recovering various stolen items, including the service weapon.

On September 25, 2023, at approximately 00:20 hours, the Leh Police received information from ASI Asgar Ali. He reported that, during the evening hours, he and his family had gone to a relative’s house for dinner, locking their own house. Upon returning around 23:45 hours (24/09/2023), they discovered the lock had been broken, and household items were in disarray. They also found that the lock of a steel locker, where a government-issued pistol and 35 rounds were stored, had been tampered with and the pistol and ammunition stolen. Subsequently, FIR No: 165/2023 under US 457 and 380 IPC was registered at the Police Station Leh, and an investigation was initiated.

A crime scene examination was conducted, and investigative teams were formed. Through human and technical intelligence, the police identified a suspicious vehicle with registration number JK02AJ-1027, believed to be used in the crime. The police traced the vehicle to Kashmir, where the culprits were planning to travel to Jammu. Leh Police coordinated with Jammu and Kashmir Police and dispatched a team to Kashmir, successfully apprehending the suspects at Quzigund on 26/09/2023 around 12:05 hours. Kulgam Police conducted a search of the vehicle, recovering the service pistol, 35 rounds, and 34 other suspected stolen items. Three individuals were arrested:

1. Jiyarul Sheikh, S/O Lalchand Sheikh, Brahmanigram, Sargardighi, Murshidabad, Kolkata, West Bengal-742226.

2. Mohd Nizam Mullah, S/O Himayat Mullah, R/O Bhavana, JJ Colony Juggi Number 530, C-Block Delhi.

3. Mohd Abid, S/O Mohd Ramzan, R/O Faridabad.

Kulgam Police transferred these individuals along with the stolen property to Ladakh Police, who brought them to Leh for further investigation. During the course of the investigation, it was established that Mohd Abid, S/O Mohd Ramzan, R/O Faridabad, was residing in Srinagar and had boarded the vehicle in Srinagar, with no involvement in the crime. Further investigation revealed the involvement of two additional suspects:

1. Mohd Sahil, S/O Mohd Himmat, R/O Brahmanigram, Sargardighi, Murshidabad Kolkata, West Bengal.

2. Pervaiz Shiekh, S/O Forooq Sheikh, R/O Gitegram, Murshidabad, Kolkata, West Bengal, who were apprehended by Leh Police on 29-09-2023.

During interrogation, the four accused confessed to the theft of the service weapon from ASI Asgar Ali’s residence, leading to the addition of section 7/25 of the Arms Act. They also admitted involvement in multiple thefts at various locations, including Nubra, Chimday, and Solar Colony. Recoveries were made based on their confessions. Additionally, they confessed to passing some stolen property to Asiya Rasool Sheikh (Alias Kani), D/O Ghulam Rasool Sheikh, R/O Hari Singh Street, Srinagar. A police team was dispatched to Srinagar, where, on 02-10-2023, the said individual was apprehended, and stolen property was recovered from her possession. The accused also revealed that they had stored some stolen property with Ram Kali, W/O Partap, R/O A-42 Sanjay Camp near Chandragupt Marg-6, Chanakya Puri, New Delhi, currently residing in Khalsar, Nubra. Recoveries were made from her possession, and she was arrested on 04-10-2023 by Police Station Nubra.

As of the current investigation, recoveries have been made in cases including FIR No: 45/2023 of Police Station Leh, U/S 457, 380 IPC; FIR No: 165/2023 of Police Station Leh, U/S 457, 380 IPC, and 7/25 Arms Act; FIR No: 166/2023 of Police Station Leh, U/S 457, 380 IPC; FIR No: 167/2023 of Police Station Leh, U/S 457, 380 IPC; and FIR No: 25/2023 of Police Station Nubra, U/S 457, 380, 411, 109, 34 IPC.

The recovered stolen property primarily includes gold and silver jewelry, along with other precious stones, silver utensils, and electronic items. Three vehicles, including two Maruti Vans and one TATA-207 pickup truck suspected to have been used in the commission of these crimes, have been seized. Further investigations are ongoing regarding their involvement in other theft cases.