Date:04/10/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/10/04/stories/2006100415670400.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

EB cables stolen, melted, sold as bars

Staff Reporter

TIMELY DETECTION: Shankar Nagar police officials inspect the aluminium bars that were seized on Tuesday. — PHOTO: A. MURALITHARAN

TAMBARAM : An employee of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board and four accomplices have been arrested on charges of stealing power cables and converting them into aluminium bars.

Shankar Nagar police arrested the five men following a tip off about the involvement of the men in theft of EB cables meant for installation in various areas.

Police said the EB employee, Munuswami, was appointed four years ago on humanitarian grounds after the demise of his father, an employee of the electricity department.

He is reported to have collected EB cables from Anna Nagar, Ambattur and Padi and converted them into aluminium bars after melting them.

He is alleged to have sold the aluminium in the open market with the help of his accomplices, Arun, Ravi, Shamsuddin and Rajesh. Police seized aluminium bars valued at Rs. three lakh from them.