The Anti Auto Theft Squad (AATS) of Delhi Police’s Central District has busted an inter-state car theft racket operating between Delhi-NCR and Punjab, arresting two alleged auto-lifters and recovering five stolen vehicles, including four SUVs, officials said on Wednesday.

The accused, identified as Shamsher, 33, and Rinku alias Rinky, 39, were arrested in Jandiala Guru in Amritsar, Punjab, on October 16. Police said the recovery has helped solve five motor vehicle theft cases registered at different police stations in Delhi.

The investigation began after a white Hyundai Creta was reported stolen from outside a house in Old Rajinder Nagar. e-FIR 025056/26 under Section 303(2) was registered at Rajinder Nagar police station on October 14, following which the AATS team was assigned to investigate the case and identify those involved.

During the investigation, police used manual intelligence and technical surveillance to uncover the alleged involvement of a Punjab-based inter-state racket. According to police, the accused targeted well-maintained vehicles in Delhi-NCR, stole them during night hours, affixed fake registration number plates, and transported them to Punjab for disposal.

Acting on specific information, the police team conducted a raid in Jandiala Guru on October 16 and arrested Shamsher. A stolen car linked to a theft case registered at Begampur police station in Rohini was recovered from his possession.

During interrogation, Shamsher allegedly disclosed the involvement of his associate, Rinku alias Rinky, who was subsequently arrested in Amritsar on the same day. Police then recovered the car in the Rajinder Nagar case.

The five recovered vehicles comprise four SUVs stolen from the jurisdictions of Rajinder Nagar, Begampur, Janakpuri and Netaji Subhash Place police stations, and one reported stolen in the Rajouri Garden area.

Police said the accused allegedly disposed of the stolen vehicles in Punjab through a local contact identified as Harpreet alias Honey, a resident of Amritsar. Efforts are underway to apprehend him and identify other members of the racket, officials said.

The operation was led by Inspector Sandeep Dabas, in-charge of AATS, Central District, under the supervision of ACP (Operations) Padam Singh Rana. Further investigations are underway, the officials said.

A man identified as Shekhar Tirkey was killed and three others were injured in a knife attack following a dispute over a vegetable roll order at a fast-food stall in Adityapur, a suburb of Jamshedpur, Jharkhand.

The incident took place around 1 a.m. on Tuesday at Khau Gali, located in front of the AIDA Gate.

Police have detained three youths, including the stall operator, in connection with the incident.

According to information, Shekhar Tirkey, a resident of Mango, had come to Adityapur to work on the lighting arrangements at the Shiv Mandir Durga Puja Committee’s pandal. At around 1 a.m. he went with his associate Golu to a fast-food stall near the AIDA Gate to eat a vegetable roll.

A heated argument broke out between Shekhar and the shopkeeper over the order. The dispute soon escalated, and the two sides began fighting. Shekhar and Golu then called other members of the Durga Puja committee to the spot.

After receiving the information, committee member Sunny arrived with his associates. The dispute allegedly escalated again, leading to a knife attack. Sunny, along with Sagar Jha and Arun Pandey, who had intervened to stop the fight, was also attacked with knives.

Shekhar Tirkey sustained serious injuries and later died. Sunny, Sagar Jha and Arun Pandey were also injured. All the injured were taken to Tata Main Hospital (TMH) for treatment.

On being informed of the incident, Seraikela Sub-Divisional Police Officer Abhinav Bhardwaj and Adityapur police station in-charge Anjani Kumar reached the spot with a police team.

After inspecting the scene, the police launched an investigation.

Three youths, including the stall operator, have been detained and are being questioned. SDPO Abhinav Bhardwaj said preliminary information suggested that the incident occurred during a minor dispute.

Further investigation is underway.

In a similar stabbing incident in Delhi, a man was allegedly stabbed to death by a group of assailants in southeast Kalindi Kunj area in a suspected revenge killing linked to a past rivalry in jail, police said. Three accused were arrested.

The deceased, Shahid Hussain, a resident of Abul Fazal Enclave-II in Shaheen Bagh, was taken to Apollo Hospital by Constable Avdesh of Kalindi Kunj police station. A medico-legal certificate issued at 5.32 p.m. by the hospital stated that Hussain had been brought dead.

A 19-year-old second-year Chemical Engineering student at the Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT), Mumbai, has committed suicide in his hostel room in Matunga.

The student, identified as Siddhesh Patil, was a native of Nashik and resided at the ICT College hostel. According to preliminary information, the incident occurred at around 10:30 p.m. when he hanged himself from the ceiling fan in his room.

Mumbai Police have registered an Accidental Death (AD) report and initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

According to information received in connection with the case, Patil had reportedly been experiencing mental health difficulties over the past few days and was undergoing treatment.

On the day of the incident (Tuesday), he reportedly sent a message to his doctor expressing emotional distress. The doctor promptly informed the student’s family after receiving the message.

Following this communication, the family contacted Patil’s friends at the hostel and asked them to reach his room immediately to check on him.

However, the friends reportedly arrived after the suicide had taken place.

The Matunga Police are investigating the case and gathering information to establish the sequence of events. Further details are awaited as the investigation continues.

The incident has drawn attention to the mental well-being of students pursuing higher education away from their families. It also underscores the importance of accessible mental health support and timely intervention when students experience emotional distress.

Earlier in September, a second-year student of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay died by suicide after he was found using a mobile phone during an examination, triggering protests by students on the institute’s Powai campus.

The incident marked the third reported suicide at the IIT-Powai campus in the past six months.

The deceased student was identified as Sahil Wakode, who was pursuing his second year in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering. According to the institute, Wakode had uploaded an examination question paper to ChatGPT in an attempt to obtain answers while the test was underway.

IIT-Bombay said no disciplinary proceedings had been initiated against him following the incident. The matter was discussed with the student by the examination instructor and the Head of the Department. They counselled him and assured him that the incident would not have an adverse impact on his academic career, the institute said.