Cops foil man's bid to steal from jewellery-making unit

The city crime branch on Tuesday arrested a 35-year old man with alleged possession of firearm. The accused was planning to commit theft in an jewellery-making unit at Zaveri Bazaar and had procured the weapon for the said purpose, the police said. The arrested person has been identified as Vimal Madan Mandal, a native of Hugli in West Bengal, and has a criminal past.

Sources said that the Unit II of crime branch had received information about Mandal arriving at a spot near Hotel Javed at Maulana Shaukat Ali Road near Kumbharwada. The officers laid a trap and apprehended Mandal. They seized a country-made pistol and a 12 cartridge from his possession.

"During questioning, Mandal revealed that he had procured the weapon to commit theft at an ornament manufacturing unit at Zaveri Bazaar," said a crime branch officer, requesting anonymity.

Mandal has cases registered against him at Pydhonie, VP Road and LT Marg police stations for stealing from jewellery-making units. He also has a case of possessing illegal firearm registered at Azad Maidan police station. "He claims that he had come out of jail after completing his sentence six months ago in the Azad Maidan case," the officer said.