SAMBA:In a major breakthrough against property crimes, Samba Police busted a theft module and solved two theft cases registered at Police Station Ghagwal with arrest of three notorious thieves and recovery of stolen gold ornaments worth Rs 10.36 lakh and cash.
Police said on 28-08-2026, a written complaint was lodged at Police Post Rajpura by Darshan Singh son of Puru Ram resident of Sanoora, Rajpura, Samba regarding theft of gold, silver ornaments and cash from his residence by unknown persons.
Acting on complaint, FIR No. 85/2026 under Section 331(3), 305(a) BNS was registered at Police Station Ghagwal and investigation started.
During investigation, police team of PP Rajpura after sustained efforts and with help of technical and human intelligence, identified and arrested two accused - Rohit Chauhan alias Labbu son of Anchal Singh and Lovely Kumar alias Happy son of Ramesh Chand, both residents of Hariye Chak, Marheen, Kathua.
On sustained questioning, both confessed their involvement. On their disclosure, police arrested third accused Mehboob Akhter son of Shams-ud-Din resident of Dodla, Basohli, Kathua, presently residing at Teli Basti, Bari Brahmana.
On disclosure of Mehboob Akhter, police recovered stolen items in FIR No. 85/2026 - one gold Mangalsutra, one gold necklace, two gold earrings, one pair of Jhumkas, four gold rings and cash Rs 30,000. Estimated value of recovered gold is Rs 4,68,600.
During further investigation, involvement of Mehboob Akhter in another case FIR No. 68/2026 under Section 305/331(3) BNS of PS Ghagwal also came to light. On his disclosure, police recovered two gold Kadas/Bangles, one gold Mangalsutra, one gold ring, two pairs of gold Jhumkas/Earrings and cash Rs 5,000. Estimated value Rs 5,68,000.
Total estimated value of recovered gold in both cases is Rs 10,36,600.
Police said accused Mehboob Akhter is a notorious thief involved in more than 26 theft cases registered at different police stations in Samba, Kathua, Jammu and Reasi. He remained detained under PSA in 2025.
Other accused Rohit Chauhan alias Labbu is also a habitual offender involved in multiple theft cases in Samba, Kathua and Jammu.
Further investigation is in progress.