Tractor theft gang busted in Karmad

Lokmat News Network

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

The Karmad Police have busted an interlinked tractor theft gang operating in Karmad and Chikalthana police station limits, arresting four suspects and seizing stolen property worth Rs 9.6 lakh.

The case relates to the theft of a John Deere tractor parked at the cattle shed of farmer Dnyaneshwar Solunke on April 29. Acting on a tip-off, police detained Ganesh Petekar (Khandala, Paithan), Abhishek Chaudhary (24, Garkheda No. 2), Santosh Bhalekar (28, Chitepimpalgaon), and Shyam Chaure (18, Garkheda No. 2), unearthing links to multiple thefts. Petekar, arrested on May 4, admitted during interrogation that he and his associates had stolen tractors from Pimpiraja, Jhalta Phata, and Karmad. A stolen tractor valued at Rs 4.6 lakh was recovered from Chikalthana, while a rotavator was seized from Beed. Further probe revealed that, with assistance from Rajendra alias Bablu Mate of Khatgaon, Paithan thesil, the gang sold two stolen John Deere tractors one from Karmad and the other from Pimpiraja to Swapnil Kinge of Siradhane in Buldhana district. The operation, under the leadership of SP Dr. Vinay Kumar Rathod, Additional SP Annapurna Singh, and SDPO Pooja Nangare, was executed by API Pratap Navghare and others.