Two Arrested While Dismantling Allegedly Stolen E-Rickshaw in Lohta Field

Lohta police say they caught two men dismantling an allegedly stolen electric rickshaw in an empty field near Mastan Baba in Harpalpur late on Independence Day. Officers recovered several vehicle parts and alleged that the battery had already been sold cheaply to an unidentified passer-by on the highway.

The arrests followed a tip received while a police team was checking suspicious people and vehicles at around 11 pm on August 15. Officers surrounded the spot and detained Bharat Saini, 23, and Mohammed Sahid alias Shahid, 20, both linked in the report to Harpalpur. Police said the pair were taking the vehicle apart to conceal its identity and sell components at different places instead of offering the complete e-rickshaw.

According to the police account, the men admitted stealing the vehicle together and splitting the money received for the battery. Any statement made in custody must be evaluated under evidentiary rules and supported by independent proof. Investigators still need to establish where the e-rickshaw was taken from, identify its owner through chassis and motor numbers, and trace the battery purchaser.

Police also said both accused had earlier cases. The report listed four cases against Saini at Lohta and Badagaon stations during 2024 and 2026, while Sahid was said to have previous Lohta cases involving theft and possession of stolen property. Previous allegations do not prove guilt in the present matter, but they may guide lawful investigation. The two were produced before a court on Sunday.

E-rickshaw theft has a wider economic cost in Varanasi. For many drivers, the vehicle is a financed workplace rather than a spare asset. Losing it can stop daily income while loan payments continue. Batteries, controllers and motors are portable, valuable and easier to move through informal markets than an entire vehicle, which makes dismantling a common way to break the chain of identification.

Owners can improve recovery prospects by photographing chassis, motor and battery serial numbers, keeping purchase and finance papers accessible, and reporting a theft immediately. Buyers of used parts should demand a credible bill and seller identity; an implausibly low price can indicate stolen property. Workshops and scrap dealers are also important points for police outreach and inspection.

The Lohta recovery will be complete only when the vehicle is matched to a complaint and all major components are accounted for. Police should pursue the missing battery and any downstream buyer without treating the initial arrests as the end of the network. The accused remain entitled to a fair investigation and trial.