A startling incident of theft targeting public green spaces has emerged along the Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor in Uttar Pradesh's Baghpat district. A newly planted sapling installed along the expressway's central verge was pulled straight out of the ground in broad daylight and placed inside the trunk of a car before the vehicle drove away. A CCTV recording capturing the entire sequence, lasting around one minute, has surfaced and is now circulating widely across social media channels, triggering concerns over the security of public infrastructure.
Surveillance Footage Captures the Theft
The surveillance video captures a vehicle pulling over onto the highway verge unexpectedly. A man steps out of the car and walks directly toward the plantation dividing the lanes. He can be seen applying effort to pull a planted sapling out of the soil. Once the plant is freed from the ground, the individual carries it over to the waiting car, pops open the luggage compartment, places the plant inside, and shuts the trunk. Immediately afterward, the vehicle is seen resuming its journey along the highway.
Vehicle Carries Police Label
What has drawn widespread public scrutiny online is the vehicle involved in the act. The viral surveillance recording clearly shows the word 'POLICE' written across the car. Despite this visible marking, official confirmation remains pending on whether the car actually belongs to the police department or whether it was a private car carrying unauthorized lettering. Similarly, the identity of the person seen removing the plant and whether he holds any connection to law enforcement has not yet been verified by authorities.
Concerns Raised Over Corridor Greenery Security
As part of the development and beautification work for the economic corridor project, authorities have planted thousands of saplings and ornamental shrubs along the shoulders and central dividers. The daylight removal of roadside greenery points to significant lapses in monitoring mechanisms along the high-speed transit corridor. Incidents of this nature undermine substantial public investments made toward roadside environmental enhancements and landscape maintenance.
Investigation and Identification Challenges
Based on the footage currently circulating, the exact stretch or milestone along the Delhi-Dehradun Corridor in Baghpat where the incident transpired has not yet been pinned down with certainty. The identity of the individual seen handling the plant also remains unconfirmed. Surveillance feeds generally allow authorities to trace registration plates and analyze facial features to track down suspects. Observers are now watching whether local administration or state police step forward to take formal notice of the footage and trace the vehicle, particularly regarding what departmental measures might follow if the car is genuinely tied to police services.
