Guwahati medicine theft has led to five arrests in Assam after police recovered a stolen pharmaceutical consignment valued at an estimated Rs 10 crore. Investigators traced the medicines to Nalbari district, where they seized the entire reported stock.
The recovery includes 795 cartons containing 131 different medicine products. Police are investigating the alleged theft from a warehouse in Guwahati and examining the roles of the five arrested men.
Guwahati medicine theft case leads to five arrests
According to reports published on October 25, the theft occurred at a pharmaceutical warehouse on Jatin Tamuli Path in the Sarusajai area of Guwahati. The missing medicines came to light when the warehouse reopened after the Durga Puja holidays.
Following the discovery, officials approached Basistha Police Station, prompting an investigation by the East Guwahati Police District team. Police subsequently gathered information about the missing consignment and traced it to Shilikhabari in Balikaria, Nalbari district.
Investigators conducted an operation late at night and arrested five men allegedly connected to the case. The operation also led to the recovery of the pharmaceutical stock, marking a significant development in the investigation.
However, police must establish the precise circumstances of the theft and determine how the medicines were transported from Guwahati to Nalbari.
Guwahati medicine theft: Who are the accused?
The arrested men have been identified as Apurba Das, 37, from Pakarkona in Hajo; Purnananda Das, 25; Rahul Yadav, 23; and Utpal Baruah, 24, from Ganeshpara in Fatasil Ambari. The fifth accused is Nibaran Barman, 44, from Balikaria in Nalbari district.
According to the reported police findings, Barman allegedly acted as the receiver of the stolen medicines. The other four men were arrested in connection with the alleged theft.
These alleged roles remain subject to investigation. Police are working to establish each person’s involvement and determine whether other individuals helped plan or execute the operation.
Moreover, investigators are expected to examine how the stolen stock reached the location where officers recovered it. Further evidence may help clarify the chain of events.
Guwahati medicine theft: 795 cartons recovered
Police recovered 795 cartons containing 131 different medicine products from Nalbari district. The recovered stock was valued at approximately Rs 10 crore, according to the latest report.
The medicines were traced to a location in Shilikhabari, under Balikaria in Nalbari. Their recovery followed a search operation after investigators developed leads about the consignment’s whereabouts.
The case also involves six digital video recorder (DVR) units linked to the warehouse’s CCTV surveillance system. These devices were reportedly stolen during the incident.
Their disappearance could complicate efforts to reconstruct the events inside the warehouse. Nevertheless, investigators may pursue other evidence to establish how the consignment was removed and transported.
The recovery of the entire reported medicine consignment is a key development. However, the investigation must also establish the full sequence of events and verify the evidence connecting each accused to the crime.
Guwahati medicine theft investigation continues
The arrests and recovery have advanced the investigation into the high-value theft. Police have initiated legal action and are continuing inquiries into the alleged offence.
Investigators will need to establish how the accused allegedly gained access to the warehouse, moved the medicines and arranged their storage in Nalbari. They must also determine whether the missing CCTV recording equipment was taken to prevent investigators from obtaining evidence.
Additionally, authorities may examine transport arrangements and other available records to understand how the consignment travelled between the two districts.
The case highlights the challenges involved in protecting valuable pharmaceutical stocks and tracking stolen goods across district boundaries. Large consignments contain multiple products, making accurate identification and verification important during recovery operations.
For now, the recovery of 795 cartons and the arrest of five men represent the main developments in the case. Further details may emerge as police examine the evidence and establish the alleged roles of those involved.
The investigation remains ongoing, and the allegations against the arrested men have yet to be tested through the legal process.