Three smugglers arrested in East Singhbhum with emeralds worth Rs 1.5 crore

Jamshedpur: Three alleged smugglers were arrested in East Singhbhum district on Saturday, and emeralds weighing 1.095 kg were seized from them, which are estimated to be worth around Rs 1.5 crore, police said.The accused were identified as Vinay Patar, 50, Siddheshwar Kalindi, 48, both residents of Murakati village in Gurabanda, and Snehasish Mangaraj, 44, from Shyamsundarpur.SP (rural) Shubham Khandelwal said on Sunday that police received a tip-off that smugglers would arrive near the main bus stand under Baharagora police station limits to deliver the gemstones. A special team headed by Ghatshila SDPO Vikas Anand Laguri was formed to intercept the suspected carriers.When the team reached the bus stand, officers noticed three men standing near two motorcycles. The suspects tried to flee after spotting the police but were chased and apprehended. During a search, police found the emeralds, packed in small pieces and wrapped in a white plastic packet, inside the gear bag of a motorcycle belonging to one of the accused.Police said the accused allegedly confessed during interrogation that they were transporting the stones to a buyer who was expected to collect the consignment at the bus stand.

“Further investigation will ascertain whether others are involved in the racket,” Khandelwal said.Officers said the other bike and the suspects’ movements before reaching Baharagora are being examined. Police said Patar has a case registered against him in Gurabanda police station in 2018 in connection with emerald smuggling. The three accused were remanded in judicial custody.