Surat : Gang stealing bikes for liquor smuggling caught

Surat, Gujarat — In a significant crackdown, the Surat City Crime Branch has dismantled an interstate vehicle theft gang, arresting two key members notorious for stealing motorcycles specifically to facilitate illegal liquor smuggling. Police have seized four stolen motorcycles valued at ₹2,40,000 from the accused, dealing a blow to the illicit alcohol trade plaguing dry Gujarat.

Acting on a precise tip-off, Surat City Crime Branch personnel deployed strategically along the stretch from BAPS Temple in Adajan to Makkai Pul. Their vigilance paid off as they successfully intercepted and nabbed the two suspects, Rujala Tomar and Rakesh Tokaria, who were reportedly involved in vehicle thefts across Surat and other parts of Gujarat.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Rujala Mohania Ramsingh Tomar (25), a resident of Nani Badoi village, Taluka Kathiwada, Dist. Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh, and Rakesh Versingh Bhajida Tokaria (Rathwa) (22), from Khamdka village, Taluka Kathiwada, Dist. Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh. Both were previously absconding in cases registered at Pal Police Station in Surat and Netrang in Bharuch District, highlighting their established criminal history.

The seized motorcycles, collectively valued at ₹2,40,000, were reportedly stolen from various locations, including Pal village in Surat and Rajpardi and Netrang in Bharuch. Further interrogation revealed that Rujala Tomar was also wanted in Udaipur district for stealing two vehicles from Naswadi police station.

The accused, both hailing from Alirajpur district in Madhya Pradesh, a region bordering Gujarat, confessed to their modus operandi. They admitted that due to the prohibition in Gujarat, there is a high demand for motorcycles among individuals involved in illegal liquor smuggling within their village.

“These individuals would enter Gujarat under the guise of daily wage laborers, specifically for bricklaying work,” stated a Crime Branch official involved in the operation. “They exploited the need for vehicles in the underground liquor market. Their confession has shed light on a direct link between vehicle theft and the flourishing illicit liquor trade.”

During their time in Surat and other South Gujarat cities for purported bricklaying jobs, the gang would meticulously scout surrounding areas. During late-night hours, often collaborating with other accomplices, they would execute the motorcycle thefts. To evade detection, they would initially stash the stolen bikes in inconspicuous locations before transporting them back to their hometown in Alirajpur at their convenience. There, these vehicles were sold off to liquor traffickers, becoming vital assets in the illegal movement of alcohol across state lines.

“This arrest is a crucial step in disrupting the supply chain for illegal liquor,” remarked a senior police officer. “By targeting the means of transport, we can significantly hinder the operations of bootleggers and those who profit from violating prohibition laws.”