A 500-tonne bridge has been stolen in an Indian village by a group of people posing as government officials. The thieves used gas cutters and earthmover machinery to chip off parts of the bridge over a period of three days.
Local villagers told The Hindu that the bridge, located in the district of Bihar, was built around 45 years ago. They had requested for it to be removed so thought the group was doing what the villagers had requested.
"Only later did the villagers realise the theft and informed the local department officials, who themselves were surprised," local journalist Ajit Kumar told The Hindu.
Indian police are looking for those involved with the theft of the 60-foot-long bridge and said it will most likely be sold off in parts as scrap metal.
"We have identified some members of the gang and some are yet to be tracked down. They destroyed public property and stole a bridge," officer Subhash Kumar told The Hindu.
"An inquiry has been ordered and we are investigating how and when the bridge was stolen."
