Police detain four after BSNL copper cable seized near GB Shah College, Vasna
Ahmedabad police arrested four men on Saturday in connection with the alleged theft of a large length of copper cable from a BSNL duct near Vasna, officials said. The arrest came after a BSNL security guard noticed unusual activity at about 2am and alerted company officials, who then contacted the police control room.
Officials identified the four suspects as Ravikant Sharma, 38; Vishnu Yadav, 38; Jitesh Yadav, 24; and Rahul Bharwad, 28, all residents of Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Police said several others reportedly fled the scene.
"The guard alerted BSNL officials, who informed the police control room," reported authorities.
Police said the accused allegedly posed as civic officials to gain access to the underground duct and used a crane to lift the cover. The men are accused of opening the BSNL duct and cutting copper cable before the guard raised the alarm. On reaching the site, police detained the four and seized a range of material from the location.
- Recovered cable: around 220 metres of 1,200-pair copper cable, reportedly in cut condition, estimated value about ₹7 lakh.
- Equipment seized: a crane with Gujarat registration, five helmets, four metal chains and six iron saws.
- Other items: a baton light, a hammer and a torch were also taken into custody.
Police registered a case against the four arrested men and against unidentified associates believed to have been involved in the operation. Investigations are ongoing to establish whether the arrested individuals were acting on behalf of a wider network involved in thefts targeting telecom infrastructure.
Implications for local telecom services and anti-theft efforts
Copper theft from telecom ducts is a recurring problem that can disrupt local and long-distance communications, affect internet and phone services, and impose repair costs on public sector units such as BSNL. While this incident was interrupted before larger quantities of cable could be removed, the recovered 220 metres of 1,200-pair cable represents a significant loss in material and potential service downtime if left unrepaired.
Law enforcement and telecom agencies in Ahmedabad have increasingly focused on coordinated responses to such incidents. Measures typically include enhanced patrolling of known vulnerable sites, surveillance of heavy equipment movements near critical ducts and coordination with civic agencies cutting permits for work on underground infrastructure.
Local businesses and residents in Vasna and surrounding wards should be alert to unauthorised personnel operating heavy machinery near telecom ducts and report suspicious activity to BSNL and police control rooms. Quick reporting, as in this case, can prevent larger-scale thefts and limit service disruption.
Seized property — official inventory
| Item | Quantity |
|---|---|
| 1,200-pair copper cable (cut) | ~220 metres |
| Crane | 1 (Gujarat registration) |
| Helmets | 5 |
| Metal chains | 4 |
| Iron saws | 6 |
| Miscellaneous (baton light, hammer, torch) | Listed items |
Prosecutors and police will determine charges under provisions applicable to theft and criminal conspiracy. The case file is expected to include statements from the BSNL security guard and company officials who were alerted and responded prior to police arrival.
For Ahmedabad's commerce and residential sectors, the episode highlights an operational vulnerability in underground networks. Authorities have emphasised the need for vigilance and tighter regulation of heavy equipment movements near telecom infrastructure while investigations continue to identify any wider gang involvement.
