Telecom equipment worth Rs 22 lakh stolen from GTL tower site in Melli, FIR registered
The equipment had been installed for telecom services in the region and its sudden disappearance has disrupted operations and raised concerns of organized theft.
LOCAL
A major theft incident has been reported in Melli, South Sikkim, where telecom tower equipment worth over ₹22 lakh was allegedly stolen from a site owned by GTL Infrastructure Ltd. The equipment, including a diesel generator (DG) set, shelter, air conditioner, switch mode power supply (SMPS), and other related materials, was taken from a Ground Based Tower (GBT) site located on the land of Mr. Dambar Biswakarma at Malli Payong village.
The matter was brought to light by Shri Anand Mangrati, aged 45, a resident of 13 Cutlary Busty, Kurseong in Darjeeling district and currently serving as Executive, Projects – Infra Projects and Capacity Management at GTL Infrastructure Ltd. Mangrati submitted a petition before the Hon’ble Chief Judicial Magistrate of South Sikkim at Namchi under Section 175(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023. He requested the conversion of an earlier complaint into a formal First Information Report (FIR).
Following directions from the Hon’ble Court, Melli Police Station registered the case as Melli PS Case No. 11/2025 under Sections 447 and 380 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, against unknown persons. The case is currently under investigation.
In the petition, Mangrati clearly stated that no No Objection Certificate (NOC) was ever granted by the company to dismantle or remove any equipment from the site. He also alleged that any documents produced locally claiming such permission were fake and forged. The equipment had been installed for telecom services in the region and its sudden disappearance has disrupted operations and raised concerns of organized theft.
The land where the theft occurred falls under Khatian No. 68/86 and includes Plot Nos. 317/412 and 318/413, Block – Malli Payong, Elaka – Turuk, District – Namchi. The theft was discovered when GTL’s project team visited the site and found the entire setup missing.
A police team from Melli PS has visited the spot and is collecting statements from nearby residents and landowners. Investigators suspect that the theft may have taken place over several days, and efforts are being made to identify the culprits. Police are also looking into the possibility of collusion, as dismantling such heavy and technical equipment would require skilled personnel, transport arrangements, and local knowledge.