Guwahati, Assam, March 21 (HBTV): Guwahati Police have busted a gang of thieves and seized a large quantity of stolen metal items worth approximately INR 18-20 lakh in a major crackdown on Friday.

Acting on intelligence inputs, a joint team from Panbazar Police Station and Fancy Bazar Outpost, under the supervision of ADCP (Central), conducted a search operation near GMC Market, Fancy Bazar.

During the raid, police recovered a massive haul of stolen goods including 76 kg of copper wires; 161 kg of miscellaneous brass utensils; copper jugs; 51 copper plates; 80 copper ghotis weighing 35 kg; 64 copper glasses weighing 10 kg; 54 brass pots weighing 14 kg; six kg of electric wires; nine kg of AC copper pipes; 80 kg of aluminum bars; 37 kg of small aluminium bars; 40 kg of iron materials used in vehicles; four large pots, seven buckets, 20 kg of aluminum square articles; a motor, and 15 brass sorias weighing nine kg.

A follow-up operation at a godown in Dhirenpara under Fatasil Ambari Police Station, linked to the same accused individuals led to the recovery of an additional 468 kg of copper wires; 76 kg of copper AC pipes; five batteries; 7.95 kg of aluminium electric cables used by APDCL; 261 kg of brass utensils, and 410 kg of miscellaneous iron and aluminum articles.

Three individuals have been arrested in connection with the case: Manoj Kumar Sarda, a resident of Rajasthan, who was found operating from Fancy Bazar; Chutun Rout from Bihar, and Damodar Pandey, also from Rajasthan.