Siliguri, 23rd July: Pradhan Nagar Police have arrested three persons in connection with the theft of HDPE pipes under the central government’s Jal Jeevan Mission project in Siliguri.
The arrested accused have been identified as Sanjay Banik (56), Ujjal Mahanta (36) and Pabitra Roy (42).
According to police, around 142 stolen pipes worth approximately ₹5.68 lakh have been recovered based on the information provided by the accused. The total value of the stolen pipes is estimated to be around ₹20 lakh.
Police sources stated that government contractor Manas Kumar Saha lodged a complaint on July 8, 2026, alleging that pipes purchased under the Jal Jeevan Mission were stored on vacant land at Devidanga Purba Para.
During the investigation, police found that all the pipes were present till April 17, but around 600 pipes were later found missing.
During questioning, site night guard Pabitra Roy allegedly informed police that the pipes were removed following instructions from the supervisor. Based on the investigation, police arrested the three accused.
Police recovered the stolen pipes from various locations, including Alipurduar and Bagdogra. The arrested accused were produced before the Siliguri court, while efforts are underway to trace the absconding supervisor.