The Ettaiyapuram police have nabbed 4 persons in connection with the theft of mobile phone signal transmission tower spares.
Police said one Alagirisamy of Kazhugaasalapuram on Ettaiyapuram – Vilaathikulam Road had allowed a mobile phone service provider to install its signal transmission tower on his land and was collecting rent from 2008. The transmission tower, which had been functioning for the past 14 years, became defunct as the mobile phone service provider’s operations were handed over to another company.
When the defunct mobile phone tower’s batteries, generator spare parts and the cables were stolen, one Zakhir Hussein was deputed for supervising the mobile phone signal transmission towers in this region.
As a few strangers, who were standing atop the mobile phone signal transmission tower, were removing the spare parts fitted in the tower on Monday, Mr. Alagirisamy’s son Jayaraman came to the spot. When they gave contradictory replies to Mr. Jayaraman, he alerted Mr. Zakhir.
Even before he could arrive at the spot, the strangers loaded the spare parts in a cargo autorickshaw and sped away.
Based on the information from Mr. Zakhir, the Ettaiyapuram police intensified vehicle check along the highway. When the police stopped a bike at Sinthalakkarai, he abandoned the bike and tried to escape. However, the police picked up him, who was identified as Manikandan of Zamin Ilanthaikulam and was involved in the mobile phone signal transmission tower spares theft.
Based on the information given by Manikandan, the police arrested his associates Sasikumar of Meenakshipuram, Chinnadurai and Sankareswaran of Paaraipatti. The police also seized the autorickshaw with the spares.
While Sasikumar is working with a mobile phone service provider’s mobile phone tower section, Chinnadurai is facing two cases pertaining to the theft of mobile phone tower spares in Avadi near Chennai. Further investigations are on.
