Team Herald
PONDA: Residents of Bethora have demanded the immediate removal of scrapyards operating in the panchayat area, citing fire hazards and an increase in theft-related activities. Locals claim that truckloads of scrap being transported through residential roads are causing inconvenience to the community.
The issue escalated further on Thursday when a minor was caught committing theft in broad daylight. The suspect was later traced to a scrapyard, prompting locals to demand the arrest of the mastermind behind the thefts. They have called for a thorough police investigation and the implementation of a tenant verification process to track those involved in illegal activities.
Residents also reported that a motorcycle was found abandoned in the area after thieves fled the scene, having removed its fuse for copper extraction. Though small in quantity, copper wire from fuses is highly valuable, leading to frequent thefts.
Locals stated that for several years, they have raised concerns in gram sabhas, demanding the removal of hazardous scrapyards from the panchayat area. Their frustration peaked on Thursday at around 11:30 am, when they spotted an unknown thief tampering with an electricity transformer box, allegedly attempting to steal copper wiring. The act caused a power outage in the locality.
Residents apprehended a minor at the scene and handed him over to Ponda Police. They suspect that the stolen copper wires are being sold to illegal scrapyards in the area. They have urged the police to conduct a thorough inquiry, identify the culprits, and take strict action to curb thefts in the locality.