Nagpur: In a cracking success, Hudkeshwar police busted a gang of ring road robbers by arresting six members who had created a sort of terror mainly among the young couples. The arrested gang members have been identified as Sheikh Salman Sheikh Shakil (19) of Bada Tajbagh, Sheikh Shakil Sheikh Shabbir (21) of Kharbi, Praful Tarachand Chaudhary (21) of Chimur, Chandrapur District, Raju alias Javai Parvesh Shende (40), Pervez Nasir Baksh (20) of Nirala Society Sakkardara and Gurpal Pancham Arkhel (20). Cops were on the hot trail of the gang as the incidents of looting on the Outer Ring Road of Umred Road had increased alarmingly.
Briefing media persons on the cracking success, Zone-4 DCP Ishu Sindhu said that if the need arises the accused gang members would be booked under the stringent MCOCA. The DCP heaped accolades on three policemen and felicitated them by announcing reward of Rs 10,000 each. The three cops are Arun Prachand, Anand Kamble and Sanjay Paddhan, all constables.
The Outer Ring Road is frequented by, among others, the young couples. And these young couples were made the easy targets by the gang. The couples were found hesitating in lodging complaints with police. The area of operation by the gang members falls between the limits of Nandanvan Police Station and Hudkeshwar Police Station. The looting sometimes turned more serious with gangrape and murders turning out to be the fallout of the crime.
The Hudkeshwar police, rattled by the ring road robberies, had spread a dragnet with the help of Police Mitras to nab the perpetrators. Meanwhile, on Sunday, Tarodi-resident Sanjay Bhendarkar and his nephew Avinash Doye were waylaid and robbed by the menacing gang. Both are plumbers by profession. They were returning home around 7.30 pm on their Activa. Near Giddoba Temple in Kharbi, four members of the gang looted both of cash of Rs 6000 and mobile phones at knife-point. On the same day, a Dighori-resident Shrikant Kayarkar was robbed of Rs 8000 cash.
Jolted by the fresh looting incidents in the high-security zone, the Hudkeshwar police threw their full might to apprehend the gang of robbers at any cost. And the cops tasted the success. Suring patrolling in nearby slums, the three cops Arun Prachand, Anand Kamble and Sanjay Paddhan spotted the three accused. The cops suspected the movement of the three accused. Presence of a motorcycle nearby the trio did the trick as the cops had information that a bike is used in looting. The three cops immediately tried to catch the three members. But the trio, sensing trouble, started fleeing the spot and even tried to attack the cops. However, the cops overpowered them and caught with firm grip. Meanwhile, a team of cops including API S V Wankhede, K V Chaugule, constables Kumbhalkar, Nilesh, Satish, Pankaj, and Vilas too reached the spot and brought the trio to police station. The sustained grilling of the three accused led to arrest of other gang members. After the looting, the gang used to enjoy partying at the cost of the victims.
