{"id":541,"date":"2025-09-25T09:21:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-25T09:21:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nowindiatimes.com\/india\/?p=541"},"modified":"2025-09-25T09:43:46","modified_gmt":"2025-09-25T09:43:46","slug":"illegal-vehicle-trade-from-meeruts-sotiganj-to-moradabads-transport-nagar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nowindiatimes.com\/india\/?p=541","title":{"rendered":"Illegal Vehicle Trade: From Meerut\u2019s Sotiganj to Moradabad\u2019s Transport Nagar"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Moradabad turning into new hub for dismantling stolen vehicles; Police tighten checks*_Meerut\u2019s Sotiganj Kabadi Bazaar, once the most notorious market in North India for dismantling stolen vehicles, has now become a major political talking point. From the Prime Minister to the Chief Minister, BJP leaders have frequently cited how strict action by the government crippled the illegal trade in Sotiganj. However, intelligence inputs and local sources suggest that the multi-crore racket has not ended\u2014it has merely shifted its base.Reports indicate that Moradabad\u2019s Transport Nagar, located under Majhola police station, is emerging as the new hotspot for this unlawful activity. The area, already known for large-scale buying and selling of second-hand vehicles, is now allegedly being used to dismantle stolen cars. Behind the Majhola police station, a kabadi market has reportedly become active where vehicles are cut into parts and sold.Sources further claim that some people associated with this trade even hold positions in the BJP Minority Morcha, raising suspicions of political shielding. Following the crackdown in Meerut, police and experts believe that Moradabad has witnessed a sharp rise in both automobile thefts and illegal resale operations.The modus operandi is simple yet dangerous: vehicles stolen from the city and nearby districts are brought to Transport Nagar or kabadi markets, dismantled within hours, and sold as scrap or spare parts. By the time police begin their investigation, all evidence linking the vehicle to its original owner is destroyed. This organized network not only fuels crime but also makes vehicle theft extremely difficult to trace.In response, police have started tightening their grip. Circle Officer Civil Line announced that every individual or trader involved in vehicle dismantling will undergo strict verification. Vehicles brought into the area will be checked thoroughly, and their ownership documents will be cross-examined to ensure authenticity.Authorities fear that if immediate and decisive action is not taken, Moradabad may soon acquire the same infamy as Meerut\u2019s Sotiganj. The administration has therefore planned a dedicated campaign against vehicle dismantling and illegal resale of cars.The government\u2019s focus remains on dismantling the nexus between vehicle thieves, traders, and organized crime groups. Police are determined to ensure that the menace of illegal markets does not flourish again under a different name or location.<\/p>\n\n\n