Auto gang busted with 6 arrests

Ludhiana: The Salem Tabri police busted an auto gang with the arrest of six accused on Thursday. In day time, the accused used to rob passengers in auto, while in the night, they used to target electronic showrooms and steal valuables. The police have recovered an auto, 10 LCD screens, 1 TV, 8 mobile phones, 2 LED screens, 1 microwave and Rs70,000 in cash. The police have also identified that the accused had installed a fake number plate on the auto.
The arrested accused have been identified as Sandeep Kumar (22) of Haibowal Kalan, Rishu Kumar (25) of Hakikat Nagar, who works as a safai karamchari at a private hospital, Vicky (23) of Partap Pura of Haibowal Kalan, Jatinder Kumar (24) of Hakikat Nagar of Haibowal, Gagandeep Singh (22) of Durgapuri of Haibowal, and Kamaldeep Singh alias Kamal (23) of Noorpura village of Raikot. While Kamaldeep and Vicky are illiterate, other accused are school dropouts.

Additional deputy commissioner of police (ADCP-1) Gurpreet Singh Sikand said Salem Tabri police have arrested the accused from Jassian Road near railway bridge, following a tip-off. The accused used to operate in an auto in daytime, while during night, they used to execute burglaries, especially in electronic stores.

The official added: “Sandeep Kumar would drive the auto, while two of three members of the gang used to sit in the vehicle, posing as passengers. The accused used to pick up passengers from the bus stand and railway station and rob them after taking them to isolated places.

“The police have solved six cases of burglaries and loot after the arrest of the accused. The accused confessed that they had stolen Rs5 lakh in cash from the office of the gas agency near grain market in Salem Tabri on December 18 last year. On January 28, they had targeted an electronic showroom at Bahadurke Road and stolen six LCDs and 25 mobile phones. The accused have confessed their involvement in four more incidents,” said the ADCP.

Salem Tabri police informed that the accused Sandeep Kumar had already been facing trial in two cases, including attempt to murder and snatching, while Vicky was arrested by police in March 2018 for burglaries.