A member of ‘Chirkut Party’ was arrested while collecting the money of meter theft
Photo Collected
A member of the ‘Chirkut Party’, a gang of electric meter thieves, has been arrested while withdrawing money demanded through a mobile financial service provider. He was arrested from Sirajganj last Friday night. Later, based on the information given by him, the police recovered the stolen 14 meters in Bagmara upazila of Rajshahi last night.
The name of the arrested person is Rashid Hasan (24). He is the son of Yusuf Ali of Chowria Madhyapara village of Salanga police station in Sirajganj.
বিজ্ঞাপন
Confirming the matter, Bagmara Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Zillur Rahman said that 20 meters were stolen from Jhikra area of the upazila last Wednesday night. These included irrigation pumps, commercial and residential meters. After stealing the meter, the gang left a note with the phone number and serial number. Locally the circle is known as ‘Chirkut Party’. Rashid Hasan was arrested with the help of IT after receiving the complaint. He was caught while withdrawing money. Later, on the basis of Rashid’s confession, raids were conducted in Jhikra area and 14 meters were recovered from bushes, straw bales and brick piles.
The Palli Vidyut Authority said that in the last two years, the gang has stolen around 1500 meters from Bagmara area of Rajshahi, including an establishment belonging to a local MP. More than 300 General Diaries (GD) have been registered in this incident.
বিজ্ঞাপন
Asaduzzaman, general manager of Bhavaniganj regional office of Natore Palli Vidyut Samiti-1, told Prothom Alo that the circle has been active in Rajshahi region for a long time. The matter was also discussed in the law and order meeting. However, fearing harassment, many customers contacted the gang instead of going to the police station and took back the meter.
The investigating officer of the case, Deputy Inspector (SI) of Bagmara Police Station Shihab Uddin said, in the initial interrogation, Rashid admitted to theft of meters in Rajshahi area. Members of the circle visit the area during the day and take information about the location and type of meters. Later in the night he would come in a rented car and open the meter and leave it in a secret place.
Shihab Uddin also said that only the meter owners were spoken to on the number given in the note. The number used to withdraw the money was also registered in the name of another person. However, it was possible to arrest Rashid while making the cashout. He was sent to court in the case filed by the police in this incident.
Regarding the purchase of stolen meters with customers’ money, the Deputy General Manager (DGM) of Natore Palli Vidyut Samiti-1 said that the meter is under the control of the customer and he is also responsible for its maintenance. So if the meter is lost or damaged the customer has to buy a new meter. The price of each meter is 12 to 18 thousand taka.
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