HT Correspondent
MARGHERITA, June 22: A case of suspected fraud and illegal sale of a dumper truck has come to light at Margherita Co-District and the Bomgara border area in Arunachal Pradesh, following the alleged dismantling and unauthorised sale of a yellow ten-wheeler dumper truck bearing registration number AR 07 1113.
The vehicle had remained abandoned in a broken-down state for a long period and was allegedly used for illegal coal transportation. It was initially rented on a three-month contract by one Mokibur Rehman from Ghana Kanta Gogoi, a resident of Borphathar Chiring Gaon. However, Rehman later informed Gogoi that the vehicle was damaged and then severed all communication.
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The dumper was reportedly sold without the owner’s consent by a group that included Avinash Pradhan (31) of Bargolai Zamadar Basti in Margherita, Anil Agarwala alias Nanu (51) of Tinsukia’s Naupukhuri Taxi Stand, and Manab Phukan.
Based on a First Information Report filed by Gogoi at the Ledo Police Outpost, police detained Pradhan, Agarwala, Ril Bahadur Thapa (41) of Ramkrishna Nagar in Tinsukia, and Basanta Panika (32) of Bhimpara.
Investigations revealed that Thapa and Panika, both drivers by profession, used a crane (registration number AS 23 AC 0394) to transport the vehicle from Bomgara to a scrapyard in Tinsukia, reportedly owned by Arun Shah.
The dumper was dismantled at the scrapyard without the owner’s permission. The premises are allegedly linked to a business associate of a local MLA’s nephew.
Junmoni Gogoi, wife of the complainant, claimed that the prime accused, Avinash Pradhan, admitted to selling the dumper’s engine, gearbox, and three wheels to Agarwala for ₹1.95 lakh.
Disputes over payment reportedly led to complications in the illegal transaction.
Police have recovered dismantled parts of the vehicle and registered a case at Margherita Police Station (Case No. 74/25) under Sections 303(2), 317(4), 324(5), and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
The four arrested individuals have been remanded to judicial custody, while another accused, Manab Phukan, remains absconding at the time of filing this report.
