Police Uncover Criminal Gang Behind Repeated Interruptions of Blue Line Services, Tracking Down 140 Meters of Stolen Cable
Discover how a criminal gang has been causing frequent disruptions in the Delhi Metro’s Blue Line services by stealing crucial cables. Learn about the police investigation that resulted in multiple arrests and highlighted rising cable theft incidents in 2024.
AB News, New Delhi: The Delhi Metro, an essential lifeline for millions of commuters, has been facing an increasing number of technical disruptions, particularly along the Blue Line. Recent investigations have revealed that these frequent interruptions are linked to a series of cable theft incidents orchestrated by a criminal gang, causing significant inconvenience and delays for passengers.
On December 5, 2024, a signal alert was triggered in the DMRC (Delhi Metro Rail Corporation) control room, indicating a problem with the signaling circuits. This prompted an immediate inspection, which uncovered that over 140 meters of essential copper cable between the Motinagar and Kirti Nagar stations had been stolen. The cables are critical for sending data regarding the trains’ locations to the track circuits, ensuring safe operation.
The theft caused extensive service disruptions, particularly affecting routes running between Dwarka and the Electronic City of Noida, as well as to Vaishali. Following the incident, the Delhi Police launched an investigation, leading to the arrest of four suspects involved in the cable theft operation.
According to police reports, perpetrators used ropes and spikes to climb metro pillars, gaining access to the elevated tracks. Inspector Vijay Singh of the Delhi Police’s Transport Range stated, “The suspects identified the metro ducts along the elevated tracks between Motinagar and Kirti Nagar through prior reconnaissance. They typically executed these thefts under the cover of darkness after DMRC services concluded for the day.”
The stolen copper wires are not only valuable due to their material worth, but their absence significantly hampers metro operations, leading to the frequent glitches that passengers have experienced. The arrested individuals—identified as Rashid Malik, Shah Rukh Malik, Ramzan, and Junaid—are alleged masterminds behind this operation, with further investigations ongoing to apprehend other gang members.
Delhi Police have been actively combating such cable thefts; since the start of the year, they have arrested 53 individuals involved in similar crimes, resolving 22 of the 44 reported cases. Alarmingly, there has been a noticeable spike in cable theft incidents from 2023 to 2024, prompting the government to consider enhanced security measures for the metro infrastructure.
As commuters continue to rely on an efficient public transportation system, the importance of addressing these security loopholes and technical disruptions remains paramount. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, along with law enforcement agencies, faces the challenge of not only preventing future incidents but also restoring public confidence in the reliability of the metro service.
