24 batteries powering a mobile tower in Udupi’s Karkala taluk were stolen in a coordinated theft between June 14 and 17. Police have launched an investigation under Section 303(2).
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Battery Heist at Mobile Tower in Karkala Sparks Security Concerns
June 19, 2025 | Karkala, Udupi District
KARKALA, UDUPI — In a bizarre and troubling turn of events, 24 high-capacity industrial batteries powering a mobile tower in Palli village were stolen in a precision-targeted heist that has left telecom officials and local authorities scrambling for answers.
The theft, which occurred sometime between June 14 and June 17, was discovered only after a technical snag led to a site inspection, revealing the complete disappearance of the critical backup infrastructure.
Karkala Mobile Tower Battery Theft Exposes Telecom Security Gaps in Karnataka
Timeline of the Incident
According to the police report registered at Karkala Town Police Station, the mobile tower—owned by Indus Mobile Tower Company—was installed on private land in Palli village, with all systems functioning normally as of 6:00 PM on June 14.
A routine inspection by a company representative, Pradeep, confirmed the batteries were intact and operational. However, the situation took a sharp turn on June 17 at around 7:35 PM, when another technician, Dinesh, visited the site to resolve a connectivity issue. He was stunned to find that all 24 batteries had vanished without a trace.
Clues Point to a Coordinated Theft
Initial investigation by the company’s security team suggests the act was not a random theft but a planned and well-executed break-in. The miscreants are believed to have bypassed physical security measures and forcibly accessed the battery bay—a sealed compartment within the tower enclosure.
What’s troubling is the precision and timing of the theft. Each battery, weighing over 60 kilograms and used to ensure uninterrupted power during outages, would have required both technical know-how and transportation capability.
"This isn't a petty crime. The logistics and coordination hint at either insider information or a group with prior knowledge of tower infrastructure," said a senior telecom maintenance officer, speaking anonymously.
Legal Action & Police Investigation
The theft has been registered under Section 303(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which deals with criminal misappropriation and theft of essential infrastructure. Karkala Town Police have launched an investigation, visiting the site and collecting CCTV footage from nearby structures, if any exist.
"We are treating this with the seriousness it warrants. Telecom infrastructure is considered critical under national security norms. We are not ruling out any angle," confirmed an official from the police department.
Rising Threat to Telecom Infrastructure?
This incident isn’t isolated. Over the past 18 months, India has witnessed a 12% rise in telecom infrastructure thefts, particularly in semi-rural areas where isolated towers are vulnerable during nighttime.
In many cases, the stolen batteries are resold in grey markets or repurposed for illegal mining operations, solar setups, and even inverter systems in remote facilities.
"These batteries are lucrative in the black market due to their long life and high power output. It’s a low-risk, high-reward crime—especially in areas with lax tower surveillance," said Ashok Kumar, a cybersecurity and infrastructure consultant based in Bengaluru.
Damage Control and Telecom Impact
While officials from Indus Mobile Tower Company confirmed that service was restored using emergency backup modules, there’s been intermittent network disruption reported by users in the area, especially during power outages.
A team has since been dispatched to reinforce tower security, install tamper sensors, and liaise with local law enforcement for regular patrols in the area.
Community Shocked, Demands Action
Locals expressed disbelief over the theft, especially given the scale of the operation. Some residents reported hearing movement around the tower area at night but dismissed it as routine maintenance.
"It’s scary to think such a large operation happened quietly just down the road. We now realize these towers are vulnerable,” said Rajesh P., a nearby resident.
The landowner, Dinesh, is also cooperating with investigators and has assured support in bolstering the tower’s physical security going forward.
Calls for National-Level Protocols
Experts now argue for centralized monitoring of critical telecom hardware across India using:
IoT-enabled locks and motion sensors
Satellite or drone-based tower surveillance in remote areas
Tamper alerts directly linked to police control rooms
With 5G rollouts and remote connectivity expansion on the rise, India’s digital backbone must be shielded from such criminal disruptions.
Conclusion: A Wake-Up Call for Infrastructure Security
This theft is more than a local criminal act—it’s a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities in India's telecom network backbone. The incident in Karkala has raised alarms at state and national levels, emphasizing the need for robust physical and digital safeguards around communication infrastructure.
As police dig deeper and security protocols are reevaluated, one thing remains clear: India’s path to a digitally connected future must be paved with stronger protections against sabotage.
