Itanagar: In a major breakthrough, police have arrested a truck driver who had been on the run for 17 months after allegedly stealing a consignment of steel bars worth ₹16.35 lakh.
The accused, 29-year-old Pradip Siva, was apprehended in Bengaluru on January 28 following an extensive search across multiple states.
The case dates back to August 2023, when Siva vanished with a truck carrying 27.720 MT of TMT bars while transporting the shipment from Banderdewa to Tinsukia.
The theft came to light when Satyam Steel & Alloys reported that their consignment, meant for delivery in Ledo, never arrived at its destination.
Despite initial raids across Assam, authorities were unable to track down the suspect, who managed to evade arrest.
The breakthrough in the case was achieved through a combination of human intelligence and technical surveillance.
A police team from Banderdewa, led by SI Koj Tada and HC Tade Bomdom, traced Siva’s movements to Karnataka.
With assistance from Bengaluru’s Hulimavu Police Station, officers successfully arrested the fugitive, bringing an end to the prolonged manhunt.
Following his arrest, Siva was transported back to Arunachal Pradesh, where legal proceedings are set to begin.
Naharlagun SP Mihin Gambo commended the interstate police cooperation that led to the arrest, emphasizing the importance of coordinated efforts in tackling organized crimes that cross state borders.