JAMMU: Jammu Police have achieved a major breakthrough by cracking two high-profile cases involving telecom equipment theft and an armed robbery at a government establishment, dismantling a well-organised criminal nexus operating across the Jammu division.
Police have arrested multiple accused persons and recovered stolen property worth over ₹1 crore, officials said.
Case Background
In the first case, a written complaint was lodged at Police Station Gandhi Nagar by Bihari Lal Sharma, retired Deputy Superintendent of Police and Supervisor (Law & Order), J&K Circle, on behalf of GTL Infrastructure Limited (GIL). The complaint pertained to the theft of valuable telecom equipment from a BTS mobile tower installed at 6 B/C Gandhi Nagar, Jammu.
The theft occurred during the intervening night of October 6, 2025, resulting in disruption of essential telecom services in the area. Following the complaint, FIR No. 268/2025 under Section 305 BNS was registered.
In the second case, an application was received from the Assistant Executive Engineer, Sub Division Store (STD-I), JPDCL, Jammu, regarding an armed robbery at the JPDCL Divisional Store, Nanak Nagar, during the intervening night of December 19–20, 2025. A group of six to seven unidentified persons, armed with sharp-edged weapons (tokas), forcibly entered the premises and looted a large quantity of electrical material.
In this connection, FIR No. 276/2025 was registered under Sections 309(4), 305 and 191(2) BNS and Section 4/25 of the Arms Act.
Police Action
Taking both cases with utmost seriousness, a special police team was constituted by SP City South Jammu, Dr Ajay Sharma (JKPS). The team was led by PSI Maan Singh, PSI Nadeem Akram and ASI Pintoo Kumar, and worked under the close supervision of SHO Police Station Gandhi Nagar Jai Paul Sharma and SDPO City South Kuljeet Singh, with overall supervision by the SP City South Jammu.
Through sustained investigation, technical analysis and ground intelligence, police arrested the accused, who were found to be part of a well-organised criminal network.
Arrested Accused
- Saddam Hussain Zargar, son of Ali Mohd Zargar, resident of Chinnote, Bhaderwah, Doda; presently residing near Mansar Hotel, Raghunath Bazar, Jammu
- Jahangir Ahmed Butt, son of Mohd Ahsan Butt, resident of Matholla, Bhaderwah, Doda; presently residing near Mansar Hotel, Raghunath Bazar, Jammu
- Sofian alias Thapa Pehalwan, son of Mohd Abbas, resident of Gandoh, Doda; presently residing at Nikki Tawi, Belicharana
- Shabaz Hussain, son of Mohd Shafi, resident of Government High School area, Pull Tawi, Nehru Market, Gandhi Nagar, Jammu
- Freed Ali, son of Lal Hussain, resident of Rakh Barothian, Vijaypur, Samba
- Abdul Lateef alias Laefy, son of Akbar Ali, resident of Majheen, Rangoora, Jammu
- One juvenile, whose identity has been withheld as per law
Recoveries
On the disclosure of the accused, police recovered a huge quantity of stolen property, including:
- Telecom equipment: 11 Base Band units, three RUS units, one Air Harmony unit, connectors, wires and switches (worth approximately ₹70 lakh)
- Electrical material: electric conductors, control cables, pin insulators, electric fittings, electric cables and 20 shattering plates
- Weapons: two sharp-edged weapons (tokas)
- Vehicles: one Alto car, one Swift car and one Mahindra pickup vehicle
The total value of the recovered property is estimated to be over ₹1 crore, dealing a major blow to the organised criminal network, police said. Further investigation in both cases is underway.
