Terror link: The explosives laden car  found in Surat was stolen from Navi Mumbai

In a knee-jerk reaction to the Gujarat serial blasts, the Navi Mumbai police launched a combing operation to nab car thieves and gangs earlier this week.
 
However, had the cops been alert and followed up on the leads provided by their Mumbai counterparts, they could have nabbed the terrorists and averted the tragedy.

In May, the Mumbai police had busted a huge racket of stolen cars that was being operated from Vashi. The stolen vehicles were transported from the city and sold in Salem, Tamil Nadu. The cops arrested six people in the case, and informed the Navi Mumbai police of the developments. However, the latter did not follow up on the leads.

DCP R D Shinde, Navi Mumbai, said, "I will check with the Vashi police station about the information provided by the Mumbai police about the gang operating from here. I will definitely conduct a probe into the matter."

Another gang

According to a crime branch officer, another gang operated by a car thief Raja has been selling stolen vehicles in North India. Raja, who hails from Pratapgarh, UP, was a driver before he took to stealing cars. The gang picks up vehicles from Navi Mumbai and drops them off near the state border. A gang from the neighbouring state then changes the registration plates etc and moves it further. He makes about Rs 20,000 per vehicle.

Bangalore link

The Bangalore police arrested Mani Kannan and Pillai Swami, an agent from Nerul, for selling stolen vehicles in Bangalore. Swami's role was to dispose the vehicles supplied from Mumbai and Vashi to clients in Bangalore and Salem.

The 14 cars that were recovered from Bangalore were redesigned and sported different number plates.