THATTA, July 1: Taking serious notice of frequent theft of costly machinery from the defunct Thatta Sugar Mills and railway track and other iron material belonging to Pakistan Railways, Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim has ordered an inquiry into the matter, Dawn has leant through official sources here on Friday. Adviser to the Sindh Chief Minister on Forest, Syed Aijaz Ali Shah Shirazi, had apprised the chief minister of the racket and demanded an inquiry during his recent visit of Thatta.

On a tip-off about frequent detachment of a major portion of 32 kilometres Jungshahi to Thatta Cement Factory railway track, a police contingent led by DPO Investigation, Miandad Jakhro after registration of an FIR under section 379 PPC, raided a junk house in Thatta and recovered 500 maunds of railway track and other valuables.

The owners of junk house, Mohammad Moosa, Siloo and Gharibo had escaped.

Sensing gravity of the issue, RPO Hyderabad conducted an inquiry through DSP DEP (departmental inquiries/proceedings) into the matter.

The inquiry findings suggested action against SHO Thatta, Yaqoob Bhatti, Head Constable Mohammad Siddique Panhwar and Lance Naik Mohammad Ali for their alleged involvement in theft of valuables from Thatta Sugar Mills which is lying closed for a couple of years and the railway track meant to transport cement consignment from the factory to Jungshahi railway station, which was lying idle since last few years, and the factory administration was shifting cement through trucks and trailers.