35 sovereigns recovered; three arrested

MADURAI

The city police arrested three persons, including a man, who allegedly helped in converting gold jewels into bars, and seized 35 sovereigns of gold ornaments, five two-wheelers and a sword used to commit crimes from them.

Following complaints of chain snatching and mobile phones going missing, Commissioner of Police Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal had formed special teams.

Inspector (Anna Nagar) and his team who were on a vehicle check at the Apollo Junction near Melamadai, a two-wheeler rider did not stop. Suspecting, when two policemen chased and nabbed, the rider confessed to have indulged in chain snatching crimes and that he did not have a driving licence or that the vehicle was owned by him.

Following the confession from N. Tamilselvan (27), the police interrogated M. Kartik (27) of Ratnapuram on TPK Road in Jaihindpuram, and S. Thangavel of Chinnakadai Street, South Gate.

It was revealed that Tamilselvan and Kartik indulged in crimes and gave the jewels to Thangavel who helped in getting the jewels converted into bars. They were involved in 13 crimes spread across the city, including Gomathipuram, KK Nagar Main Road, K Pudur, Uthangudi Sriram Nagar, Pudur Alagar Nagar, Tallakulam, Koodalpudur and Teppakulam.

The robbers had even attacked a family, including that of a differently-abled woman, who were waiting to board a bus. The woman, who was wearing a seven sovereign gold chain, was pushed down, they had confessed.

The bikes, which were used by the criminals had to be examined as the police suspect that they could be stolen or the number plates may be fake. Further investigation is on.

The three accused were produced before a Judicial Magistrate court, which remanded them in judicial custody.