Hassan: Two persons have been arrested by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) in connection with the theft of railway relays (safety-critical electromagnetic switches that control signalling to ensure safe train operations), with property worth about Rs. 99,000 recovered.

Acting on specific information, RPF personnel intercepted a man moving suspiciously on a Honda Activa without a number plate near the Railway Institute at around 5.20 am. On questioning, he identified himself as Shriramu alias Vijay (34), a resident of Hassan. A hammer and a metal piece were found on him.

During interrogation, he admitted that he had entered the railway premises around 2.30 am with the intention of committing theft, but abandoned the plan due to Police movement in the area.

He also confessed to having stolen railway relays from a store room 10 to 15 days ago by breaking open the lock, and selling them to a scrap dealer in city.

Based on his statement, the RPF team searched for the scrap shop near SBI Bank in Gowri Koppalu. The shop owner admitted to purchasing 51 relays for Rs. 8,000.

During the search, 22 broken relays with copper coils and about 5.7 kg of copper wire extracted from the remaining relays were recovered. The shop owner was also arrested.

The seized materials, found in dismantled condition, along with the two-wheeler and tools used in the offence, have been confiscated.

Both accused have been brought to the RPF Post in Hassan for further legal action.