Kathmandu, March 12

Police today claimed to have busted a burglary racket, which targeted unattended shops and houses and was active in Kathmandu for the past four years.

Officials said three members of the racket were arrested during a special operation yesterday. The suspects are Omraj Shrestha, 41, of Ramechhap and Paras Prasad, 33, and Santosh Podar, 32, of Indian State of Bihar. Metropolitan Police Range first arrested Shrestha, a cabbie, based on information that his taxi was used for transporting goods stolen from a Dhumbarahi-based hardware shop of Karna Bahadur Chaulagain on March 5.

Upon the arrest of Shrestha, the statement furnished by him led to the arrest of Indian citizens — Prasad and Podar — residing in Old Baneshwor, Kathmandu Metropolitan City-31. Police raided the duo’s rented room and confiscated stolen goods worth around one million rupees. The seized goods include a huge quantity of sanitary wares and silver utensils. A van and Rs 70,000 were also confiscated.

Police said the gang used to strike shops and transport the stolen items to the rented room of the Indians. According officials, further investigation is under way to find other shops and houses they targeted.