They came to rob a diamond merchant and make a fast buck; but plain-clothes police thwarted their plan when they reached the spot.
They came to rob a diamond merchant and make a fast buck; but plain-clothes police thwarted their plan when they reached the spot.
The officers of DB Marg police station on Thursday arrested five dacoits from near Panchratna Building at Opera House to rob a diamond merchant.
Senior inspector NR Mali of DB Marg police station said that the police received specific information that a gang of five would arrive at Panchratna Building to rob a diamond merchant on Thursday.
“Our team swung into action immediately,” he said. “We had to go with a plan as the area is crowded throughout the day. If the robbers were armed, any wrong move could have created panic in the area.”
A police team, headed by inspector Vinod Sawant and assistant inspector Pandurang Sanas, was formed to arrest the dacoits. The team laid a trap at spot disguising as hawkers and vendors, he said.
“When the five arrived at the spot, their movements were constantly monitored by our officers and men,” another officer said.
“The group was moving suspiciously and as soon as they tried to execute their plan, they were apprehended by our officers disguised as hawkers.”
This was not the end of the drama. As soon as the police team accosted them, all five dispersed and started running. “Our planning was meticulous,” Mali said. “The policemen were not only stationed near the spot but also at entry and exit points and bylanes. All five were soon arrested. We seized a few choppers from them.”
“Preliminary interrogations have revealed that they are a newly-formed gang,” Mali said. “Most of the gang members either work as auto-rickshaw drivers or plumbers. The gang is believed to be headed by Shahbaz, who has more than 12 criminal cases pending against him in various police stations.”
He said that the five were produced before a local court and they have been remanded in police custody. “We are investigating if there are more people involved and if some insider is involved.”
The arrested have been identified as Shahbaz Talib Shaikh, 36, resident of Bharat Nagar slums in Bandra (E), Mohammad Adam Mir, 43, of Jogeshwari, Mohammad Shamshad Mohammad Khalid Qureshi, 42, of Mumbai
Central, Arif Abdul Latif Qureshi, 31, Malwani, and Shabbirali Akbarali Khan, 37, of Chuna Bhatti.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}