New Delhi, June 19: In a major breakthrough against vehicle theft and street crime, the East District Police on Friday arrested an auto-lifter and recovered two stolen two-wheelers along with two stolen mobile phones. The arrest has helped police solve four theft cases registered across different police stations in Delhi.

The accused, identified as Rohit alias ‘Pistol’, was apprehended by a team from Police Station Madhu Vihar following a targeted operation based on specific Intelligence inputs. Police said the accused was found to be involved in multiple criminal cases related to robbery, snatching and theft.

According to officials, the operation was carried out as part of the East District Police’s ongoing drive to curb vehicle theft, snatching and other street crimes.

A dedicated team was formed under the supervision of Inspector Sandeep Arya, Acting SHO of Madhu Vihar Police Station, and under the overall guidance of the ACP of Madhu Vihar Sub-Division. The team comprised Head Constables Arun, Sachin Tyagi and Neeraj.

On June 16, while conducting routine patrols in the Madhu Vihar area, the police team received a tip-off from a reliable informer. The informer disclosed that an auto-lifter would arrive near Tarawati Hospital in Joshi Colony to sell a stolen scooter at a heavily discounted price of around Rs 8,000.

Acting swiftly on the information, the police laid a trap near the hospital and kept the area under surveillance. At around 6.30 P.M., a suspect arrived riding a TVS N-Torq scooter without a registration number plate. The police intercepted and apprehended him on the spot.

During questioning, the suspect identified himself as Rohit alias ‘Pistol’, a resident of Mandawali in East Delhi. Verification of the scooter through the ZIPNET database revealed that the vehicle had been reported stolen from the Shakarpur area. The scooter was linked to an e-FIR registered on June 15 under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

During a search of the vehicle, police also recovered two mobile phones. Further verification established that both phones had been reported stolen in separate theft cases registered at Madhu Vihar Police Station earlier this year. The recovered property was seized and the accused was formally arrested.

During sustained interrogation, Rohit allegedly disclosed that he had hidden another stolen motorcycle near the Community Centre in Joshi Colony, Mandawali. Acting on his disclosure, the police team recovered a Yamaha motorcycle from the location.

Subsequent verification confirmed that the motorcycle had been stolen from the Pandav Nagar area and was linked to an e-FIR registered on May 19, 2026. Police said the recovery further strengthened the case against the accused and helped solve another pending vehicle theft case.

The accused was produced before the court on June 17 and was subsequently remanded to judicial custody. Further investigation is underway to ascertain his possible involvement in other cases of vehicle theft and street crimes across the city.

Police said Rohit, 27, is a daily wage labourer who studied up to Class 10. Originally from Anna Nagar in Daryaganj, he is currently residing in Mandawali. During the investigation, it emerged that he is a drug addict and a habitual offender with a criminal record.

According to investigators, Rohit primarily targeted parked two-wheelers in different parts of Delhi. To avoid detection, he would remove the registration number plates of stolen vehicles before attempting to sell them at throwaway prices. Police also said he frequently retained or disposed of stolen mobile phones to earn quick money, which was allegedly used to fund his drug addiction and meet daily expenses.

Officials further revealed that the accused has previously been involved in at least four criminal cases related to robbery, snatching and theft registered in Delhi.

The recovered property includes a stolen TVS N-Torq scooter linked to a theft case registered at Shakarpur Police Station, a stolen Yamaha motorcycle linked to a case registered at Pandav Nagar Police Station, and two stolen mobile phones connected with separate cases registered at Madhu Vihar Police Station.

With these recoveries, police have successfully worked out four cases, including two mobile phone theft cases from Madhu Vihar and two vehicle theft cases registered at Shakarpur and Pandav Nagar police stations.

Lucknow, June 19: Amid a controversy of an alleged sting operation, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Friday dismissed it as part of a “well-planned conspiracy” to defame the party and its leadership ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.

In a statement on X, former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati said political opponents and a section of the media, unsettled by the BSP’s growing activity and support base ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections in the state, were running misleading and defamatory campaigns.

She asserted that the party’s candidate selection process is transparent and multi-layered. Party functionaries, she said, regularly interact with and screen prospective candidates, assessing their social standing, political background, organisational capability, loyalty and long-term commitment.

Urging cadres not to be swayed by rumours, Mayawati called upon party workers to remain focussed on preparations for the 2027 polls.

The BSP chief said the party represents the interests of the Bahujan Samaj as well as economically weaker sections among upper castes, and works in line with the ideals of Dr B.R. Ambedkar for constitutional rights and justice. She maintained that the BSP functions independently, without relying on big capitalists, drawing strength instead from the support of its members.

Mayawati alleged that such independence does not suit “narrow, casteist, communal and capitalist forces”, which, she said, often resort to attempts to malign the party, particularly as elections approach.

She further claimed that a section of the media was raising questions over the BSP’s candidate selection process to divert attention from electoral manoeuvres of other parties.

“All office-bearers, including Uttar Pradesh unit president Vishwanath Pal, are currently engaged in strengthening the organisation, expanding its support base across communities, and preparing a list of potential candidates with thorough screening,” she said.

Mayawati added that interactions with ticket aspirants involve detailed questioning, similar to cross-examination in a court, to evaluate their suitability — a process that should not be misrepresented at face value.

Appealing to both the media and party workers, she urged them not to fall prey to “sponsored conspiracies” by rival parties, and instead remain focussed on the BSP’s ‘Mission 2027’.

Jaipur, June 19: Acting under a ‘zero tolerance’ policy and following directions from the Union Home Ministry, a joint team of the district administration, police, and Border Security Force (BSF) launched a major operation against alleged illegal constructions within 15 kilometres of the India-Pakistan border in Rajasthan’s Barmer district.

The action was carried out in border villages falling under the Gadra Road and Chauhatan subdivisions in Barmer district.

Authorities had earlier surveyed the structures and issued notices directing occupants to remove the alleged illegal constructions by June 18.

However, after the deadline passed without compliance, the district administration, police, and BSF initiated a joint demolition and removal drive on Thursday. The operation covered villages including Hamirani, Malana, Kerkori, Chauhatan, Bhalgaon, and Demba, where officials inspected and verified the legality of permanent structures. According to the administration, the exercise forms part of an intensified border security initiative aimed at identifying and removing unauthorised constructions in sensitive areas near the international border.

Officials said the action was undertaken in accordance with security directives and legal procedures, with prior notices served to affected parties. The administration maintains that the drive is focused on ensuring compliance with regulations in strategically important border zones.

However, the operation has sparked resentment among sections of the local community, with residents and public representatives questioning both the timing and manner of the action. Members of the affected community have termed the demolitions unfair and alleged that adequate consultation was not carried out before the drive was launched.

The issue has also triggered a political controversy. Ahead of the action, Congress in-charge and Baytu MLA Harish Chaudhary and Barmer-Jaisalmer MP Ummedaram Beniwal held a press conference opposing the move. They alleged that the operation was being carried out for political gain and warned against turning the sensitive border region into a political battleground.

“The border area should not become part of a political agenda. Such actions risk damaging the centuries-old social harmony and brotherhood that exists in the Thar region,” the leaders said.

Congress representatives also met the Additional District Magistrate (ADM) and formally objected to the drive. They argued that undertaking such a large-scale operation without meaningful dialogue with local residents and elected representatives was inappropriate.

It needs to be mentioned here that a comprehensive security blueprint has been devised and implemented following directives from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to completely dismantle cross-border networks involved in infiltration, drug smuggling, and other illegal activities aided by modern drone technology.

Under this plan, four Rajasthan border districts, namely, Barmer, Jaisalmer, Bikaner, and Sri Ganganagar, have been designated as ‘Special Watch Zones’.

The Border Security Force (BSF), district administration, local police, and central and state intelligence agencies will now function under a unified command structure.

The initiative aims to establish complete transparency, enhanced surveillance, and stringent security oversight of all activities within a 50-kilometre radius of the India-Pakistan border, ensuring swift detection and prevention of any suspicious or unlawful activity.