KARACHI, March 7: KESC police have arrested eight members of two different gangs involved in theft of electric copper wires and underground cables in Gulistan-i-Jauhar and Korangi.

KESC spokesman said the police also seized heavy duty cutters, vehicle (MTL) used in cutting live wires and power cables. The gangs were led by some employees of the Karachi Electric Supply Corporation.

Referring to the police report, he said raids were conducted on a tip off that some persons on a ladder-fixed vehicle were busy in cutting live wires of local distribution network near Pink Residency in Block-8 of Gulistan-i-Jauhar.

The police team, led by SHO Faqir Muhamamd Jatoi, raided the spot and caught five persons red-handed. They were identified as Mohammad Sami, Mohammad Fahad and Javed Akhtar, all employees of KESC posted at Gulshan-i-Iqbal office, while Shahid Ali and Kamran Baloch were their accomplices. The ladder-fixed vehicle bearing registration No QAH-8226 is reportedly owned by a private contractor.

Police recovered copper wires, rubber gloves and other material from their possession and FIR No 115/2007 was registered against the accused at Sachal Police Station.

In another raid, police arrested three persons, involved in sale of KESC underground cable to a scrap-vendor at Korangi Industrial Area. Accused Khaliquzzaman and Mazhar Abbas were identified as KESC employees while Mohammad Sabir was a vendor.

Police recovered 20 meters four core stolen cable from their possession and registered FIR No 60/2007 against them on the complaint of Farukh Saeed, Manager Network Korangi Model Zone.