Chennai: Man who robbed beggars, two aides held

CHENNAI: Most robbers target the affluent, but this homeless man targeted beggars in Mylapore, snatching their cell phones and cash. On Wednesday night, luck ran out for Suleiman, 23, when a police team nabbed them. His accomplices Dhanabalan, 23, and Shaktivel, 20, were caught later.
Last week, police said, a pavement dweller was robbed and left with serious injuries to the head. A special team headed by Mylapore assistant commissioner Nelson and constables Thirunavukarasu, Ramamurthy, Thyagarajan and Rakumar collected CCTV camera footage from the scene of crime and found that the robber had his leg bandaged.
On Wednesday night, SB-SID sub-inspector Augustin was passing through Royapettah when he noticed a man with a bandaged leg at the same spot and informed the special team which nabbed him. Police identified him as Suleiman and based on his confession, they arrested his accomplices. The special team also seized the bikes of the three men.
Suleiman, a police officer said, lost his mother when he was 13. Not willing to live with his father, he left home and wandered the streets when a good samaritan admitted him to an orphanage. He found the disciplined set-up tough and took shelter under the Royapettah bridge that became his home.
He began picking rags but spent his small earnings on ganja and liquor. In 2015, he robbed a pedestrian at Thiruvanmiyur but was caught and sent to a correctional facility in Kellys.
“After coming out, he shifted focus towards beggars and pavement dwellers, believing they would be safer targets as they do not approach police,” said joint commissioner (east) R Sudhakar.
Suleiman roped in Dhanabalan, who he knew from his days at the correctional home, and Shakthivel. The gang would attack beggars who were asleep and snatch their cell phones and cash, the officer said.