March 21, 2025: A major racket involved in the illegal trade of stolen goods from Assam to other states has been busted by the police. Stolen materials from Assam were being supplied to Delhi and Kolkata, fueling a booming illegal business.

According to police sources, three non-local traders—Manoj Kumar Sarda, Choutun Raut, and Damodar Pandey—were operating the illegal trade, collecting stolen items from small dumps across Guwahati. These stolen materials, including copper, brass, and other valuable metals, were first stored in a warehouse near GMC Market in Fancy Bazar before being transported every two days via DI vehicles to a larger dump in Dhirenpara.

On Thursday night, a joint raid was conducted in Fancy Bazar by Panbazar and Fancy Bazar police. Authorities found that the operators at the Dhirenpara dump failed to provide any legal documentation for the stored goods. Consequently, the police arrested the dump owners and seized a significant quantity of stolen materials.

During the raid, law enforcement officials recovered a variety of stolen goods, including temple materials and several kilograms of empty cartridges. The total estimated value of the confiscated items is believed to be over ₹20 lakh.

Investigations are ongoing to identify other individuals involved in this illegal trade. The police are also exploring possible links between this racket and larger criminal networks operating in the region.