Jammu, March 5, 2026: In a major crackdown on organized vehicle theft, Jammu Police South Zone has dismantled a notorious interstate vehicle theft gang and recovered several stolen vehicles during a special operation conducted under Operation AVTAAR.
Police officials said that PS Gangyal successfully exposed an interstate module involved in stealing high-end vehicles, including Mahindra Scorpio and other premium cars, operating across multiple states in North India. The operation was carried out under the supervision of the SSP Jammu, with guidance from SP City South and SDPO City South.
A special police team led by PSI Rahul Kumar, ASI Sanjay Kumar, and Sgct Manpreet Singh, under the monitoring of Insp Sanjeev Chib, SHO PS Gangyal, conducted extensive investigations, including technical analysis and CCTV surveillance. Several raids were carried out across North India to track the accused and recover stolen vehicles.
During the investigation, police found that the gang used a well-organized network to steal vehicles from different states and sell them in other regions after tampering with chassis numbers, changing number plates, and altering identification details to avoid detection.
The main accused has been identified as Pawan Kumar, son of Kamal Singh, a resident of Viran, Tohsham in Bhiwani district of Haryana. His associate Ramesh Singh, a resident of Barnai in Jammu, was also involved in the operation. Police revealed that Pawan Kumar is linked to around 70 FIRs related to vehicle theft across multiple states, and preliminary investigations suggest the gang may have stolen nearly 1,000 vehicles over the past seven to eight years.
During the operation, police recovered four stolen vehicles worth approximately ₹40 lakh, including a Maruti Swift, Hyundai i20, Chevrolet Beat, and Mahindra Scorpio. Officials confirmed that the vehicles had tampered number plates and altered chassis numbers.
The case has been registered at Police Station Gangyal under FIR No. 13/2026 dated January 30, 2026, under Section 303(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and further investigation is currently underway.
Jammu Police stated that the successful operation reflects the effectiveness of technology-driven policing and coordinated field operations, reaffirming its commitment to protecting public property and maintaining law and order in the region.