VALPOI
Batteries from 15 trucks have been stolen from different parts of Sattari, leaving truck owners and locals baffled over the motive for the thefts.
According to locals, some batteries were reported stolen at Honda, Sonshi and Navelim on Monday night and as news spread on Tuesday morning, owners rushed to inspect their trucks and many were shocked to find their batteries missing as well.
Many concerned truck owners later removed the batteries from their trucks and stored them in their houses.
When contacted, truck owner and businessman Prakash Gawas said all 15 truck batteries were stolen on Monday night.
“The price of a new truck battery is around Rs 9,000 to Rs 10,000. Some trucks were parked by the roadside, while others were parked in the garage,” said Gawas.
“Truck operators have been hit from all sides. On the one hand, they have been suffering due to a halt in mining activity and any chance to deploy their trucks for alternative purposes were dashed during the Covid pandemic. Now, batteries are being stolen.”
Some other truck operators have demanded police patrolling at night in Sonshi, Navelim and Honda.
“We are now afraid that tyres can also be stolen in the near future,” a truck owner said.
Some of them have suspected the involvement of locals in the theft of the truck batteries, since many of the vehicles had been parked in garages.
