Four held for over 50 midnight robberies

Four members of a gang have been arrested for allegedly committing over 50 midnight robberies in north-east Delhi, one of which led to a man’s murder, the police said on Tuesday.

The victims include a doctor, an engineer and an IT professional among others, the police added.

The accused have been identified as gang leader Mohd Shahnawaz (24), Rahul Gupta (21), Mohd Samar alias Sallu (21), and Mohd Tanveer alais Tannu (20) who were arrested on Monday, Deputy Commissioner of Police (North-East) A.K. Singla said.

“With their arrest, nine reported criminal cases have been worked out,” Mr. Singla added.

The police said that they received a tip-off stating that criminals involved in midnight robberies would come near Khajuri Chowk on Monday evening after which a trap was laid.

“The police team stopped three persons who had come on a bike. When asked to produce the vehicle’s documents, the men failed to do so. A country-made pistol, three live cartridges and a toy pistol was recovered following a search. They were arrested,” Mr Singla said adding that the three identified themselves as Shahnawaz, Sallu and Rahul.

The police claimed to have received another tip-off on Tanveer’s arrival in Bhajanpura around midnight and he was arrested. A stolen motorcycle and a mobile phone were seized from his possession.

Murder accused

“Tanveer was accused in a murder case of Khajuri Khas committed on March 22 wherein he and his associates had shot at a man when he resisted a robbery bid. The person later succumbed to injuries,” the officer said.

During interrogation, the accused told the police that they are all members of the same gang which was formed by Shahnawaz after coming out of Dasna jail in January this year.

Mr. Singla said Shahnawaz had teamed up with one Tausir of Loni initially but to a dispute, parted ways with him and formed his own gang in March. “All of them are drugs addicts and used to commit crimes to earn easy money,” the DCP said.