Unidentified criminals have stolen over half a dozen manhole covers, all made of iron cast in Habba Kadal area of old Srinagar city.
The locals from Babapora Habba Kadal told the news agency KNT that they were shocked to find uncovered manholes early Thursday morning. The thieves possibly drug addicts or bootleggers stole the manhole covers during the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday,” locals said.
They said manhole covers made of cast iron must be fetching a good price in the grey market for petty thieves and drug addicts. “We request the police to take cognizance of the incident and question the different scrap dealers. Finally, these thieves or drug addicts will sell these manhole covers to scrap dealers,” the locals said.
Stealing manholes or other stuff is not uncommon in Kashmir Valley. Last year, drug addicts stole the costly taps from a mosque in the Mehjoor Nagar area of Srinagar uptown. Similarly, a drug addict was apprehended by locals while stealing the battery of a mosque in the Sant Nagar area of Srinagar.