Mysore/Mysuru: The Mysuru Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel have arrested two persons for stealing Railway signal cable and have recovered the stolen Railway property from them.

RPF personnel while conducting a surveillance operation between Ashokapuram and Kadakola Railway Stations on May 5,  noticed two persons who were later identified as 23-year-old Raghu and 55-year-old Thippanna of Chitradurga district, moving in a suspicious manner. The RPF personnel detained them for questioning.

During enquiry, both individuals are said to have confessed of stealing about 15 mts. of 19 core Railway signalling cable about a month ago when they were engaged as daily wage labourers for a water pipeline project and had observed the exposed railway cables during excavation work.

They further revealed that the stolen cable was removed during early morning hours, transported to Srinagar Layout in city and burnt to extract copper from the cable to sell it.

Based on information provided by the two accused, RPF officials conducted a spot verification and found burnt cable remnants. About 5 kgs of extracted copper wire concealed in a plastic sack was seized.  Legal action is being initiated against the two accused.