10-tonne iron bridge built over 40 years ago stolen in Chhattisgarh: How and why 15 people came together for the theft

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• A 70-foot steel bridge was stolen overnight in Korba, Chhattisgarh
• Police arrested 5 suspects, searching for 10 more, including 2 kingpins.
• Seven tonnes of stolen steel have been recovered; investigation is ongoing

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A steel pedestrian bridge measuring about 70 feet in length and weighing over 10 tonnes was stolen overnight in Chhattisgarh’s Korba city, leaving residents shocked, police said on Saturday.

The bridge, built more than four decades ago over the Hasdeo Left Canal in Ward No. 17 of the Dhodhipara area, was allegedly cut apart and stolen to be sold as scrap. Police have so far identified the involvement of 15 people in the case and arrested five of them.

Korba Additional Superintendent of Police Lakhan Patle said residents first noticed the bridge was missing on January 18. Following this, local corporator Laxman Shrivas filed a complaint. Preliminary findings suggest the accused used gas cutters to dismantle the iron structure, Patle said.

Based on the written complaint lodged at the CSEB police chowki, a special team was formed to investigate the theft. Through technical analysis, informer inputs, and sustained investigation, police were able to identify the suspects.

Five accused have been arrested so far. They are Lochan Kevat (20), Jaysingh Rajput (23), Moti Prajapati (27), Sumit Sahu (19) and Keshavpuri Goswami alias ‘Picture’ (22), all residents of the CSEB police chowki area, Patle said.

Police are searching for the remaining 10 accused, including alleged kingpins Mukesh Sahu and Aslam Khan, who are currently absconding, he added.

During interrogation, the arrested accused admitted that they stole the bridge to sell the iron as scrap. Further investigation is ongoing, police said.

CSEB police chowki in charge Bhimsen Yadav said around seven tonnes of steel concealed inside the canal have been recovered. The vehicle used to transport the stolen material has also been seized, and efforts are underway to trace where the remaining steel was sold.

Speaking to PTI over phone, corporator Shrivas said the bridge was around 70 feet long and five feet wide and had been constructed nearly 40 years ago. Since the theft, residents have been using a nearby concrete bridge to cross the canal, he added.