Three Arrested for Stealing 1.5 Tonnes of Steel Plates from Windmill steel theft in Tirunelveli

Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu – In a significant incident of theft, police have arrested three individuals for stealing around 1.5 tonnes of steel plates from a windmill located near Mela Pillaiyarkulam, close to Maanur.

According to the report, Karuppasamy (45), a windmill supervisor from Usilankulam near Thevarkulam, arrived at the site on June 22 only to find a large quantity of steel plates, which were stored for maintenance and repair work, missing.

Realizing the severity of the situation, Mr. Karuppasamy filed a formal complaint with the Maanur Police Station. An immediate investigation was launched, which led to the identification and arrest of three suspects involved in the theft.

The individuals arrested have been identified as:

• Karthik (29) from South Panaivadalichathram

• Giri Padmanathan (18)

• Mahendran (26) from Subbaiahpuram

During the investigation, police uncovered that the trio had unlawfully entered the windmill premises and stolen the heavy steel components, presumably to sell them as scrap metal for financial gain. The stolen materials are estimated to weigh 1.5 tonnes, highlighting the scale of the operation.

Authorities have taken swift legal action, and all three accused have been taken into custody pending further proceedings.

This incident raises concerns over security measures at renewable energy sites, particularly wind farms in remote areas. Police have urged windmill companies and supervisors to tighten surveillance systems and implement round-the-clock monitoring to prevent such crimes.

The Maanur Police Department continues to investigate whether the arrested youths were part of a larger network targeting infrastructure sites for valuable metal components.