AGARTALA | SEPTEMBER 5, 2026: In a major breakthrough against serial urban property theft, officers from the East Agartala Police Station have apprehended a notorious thief red-handed with stolen property linked to a string of ATM copper wire thefts across multiple prominent localities in the capital city.
The police operation targeted a widespread criminal racket that had been systematically disabling automated teller machines (ATMs) and cutting heavy-gauge grounding and power copper cables across Kalyani, Ashram Chowmuhani, Maharaja Bir Bikram (MBB) University area, and Shibnagar.
Investigation Details & Police Action
- Modus Operandi: The suspect targeted isolated and non-guarded ATM kiosks during late-night hours, severing internal copper grounding wires, AC connection cables, and power conduits for high-value metal resale in local scrap markets.
- Targeted Recovery: Acting on targeted intelligence and surveillance footage following repeated municipal complaints, an East Agartala police team led a raid that resulted in the arrest of the primary suspect alongside a substantial quantity of cut copper cables and break-in tools.
- Interrogation & Probe Expansion: Police investigators are interrogating the detainee to track local scrap metal buyers and co-conspirators involved in fencing stolen public utility assets across West Tripura.
Official Statement by East Agartala Police Station OC
Addressing media personnel regarding the arrest and recovery, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of East Agartala Police Station Krishnadhan Sarkar confirmed that strict legal action is underway:
“We had been receiving persistent reports of ATM copper wire thefts across Kalyani, Ashram Chowmuhani, MBB University, and Shibnagar areas. Following an intensive investigation, East Agartala police successfully apprehended the main suspect along with stolen copper materials. Interrogation is actively ongoing to ascertain whether additional gang members are involved in this network.”
Incident Summary
- Incident: Arrest of serial thief involved in ATM copper wire thefts.
- Jurisdiction: East Agartala Police Station, West Tripura.
- Affected Localities: Kalyani, Ashram Chowmuhani, MBB University area, and Shibnagar.
- Key Official: Krishnadhan Sarkar (OC, East Agartala Police Station).
- Items Recovered: Stolen copper cabling, cutting tools, and peripheral hardware.
- Date: Saturday, September 5, 2026.
