Gang that kills driver and flees with vehicle in Palghar-Thane area nabbed

Unit 11 of the Mumbai crime branch, in a joint operation with Palghar police, arrested three people for allegedly killing drivers of tourist and private vehicles and fleeing with the vehicles and other valuables. The gang operated in Palghar-Thane area.

According to crime branch officials, the gang would hire tourist vehicle or seek lift on the road and befriend the driver. After sometime they would offer him tea or juice laced with sedatives. Once the driver becomes unconscious, they would dump him in some isolated place or kill him before fleeing with the vehicle and other valuables.

"There was fear in the mind of drivers plying on Palghar and Thane route. The Mumbai crime branch received information that a gang operating on these roads was indulging in these crimes. Hence, we decided to launch a joint operation with Palghar police to nab the culprits," said a crime branch officer.

Officers of Unit 11 received information that one of the members of the gang would be coming to Shantinagar in Wadala to plan another crime. Crime branch officials, on a tip off, arrested three people from Wadala on December 31. On sustained interrogation, they confessed to the crime and revealed that they had sold the stolen car and the booty in Gujarat.

"One of the accused has a history of such crimes and has been arrested a number of times. He was currently out on bail," said an officer. "He told us he wanted money for his daughter's wedding and had hence got involved in the crime. We have handed over the accused to Kasa police station in Palghar where they have a registered a case against them."