The Hindu : New Delhi News : Suspended U.P. cop, four others arrested for robberies

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jun 14, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Suspended U.P. cop, four others arrested for robberies

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, JUNE 13. Five people, including a dismissed Uttar Pradesh fire brigade constable, allegedly involved in sensational cases of highway dacoity and murder, were arrested by the Special Staff of the New Delhi police this Saturday. A stolen truck, two country-made firearms and sedatives were recovered from their possession.

According to the Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi), Ajay Chaudhry, Head Constable Harbans Gill and Constable Bijender Sharma received a tip-off that some criminals would assemble near Ridge Road to plan a dacoity on Saturday. Subsequently, they informed their superiors who in turn asked the Special Staff to carry out the operation. A team under the supervision of the Additional DCP, Rajiv Ranjan, was formed.

At 9-30 p.m., the team spotted the suspects in the Ridge Road area and overpowered them. They were identified as Devender, the suspended Uttar Pradesh constable, Rajender and his brother Ravi, Ashok Sharma and his brother, Raj Kumar. During interrogation, they confessed to their involvement in at least 50 truck robberies. They told the police that they belonged to two different gangs and had recently started working together. While one was headed by Ashok, the other was formed by the dismissed constable, Devender.

Devender disclosed that he had joined the Uttar Pradesh fire brigade in 1997 but was dismissed after he was found indulging in unlawful practices. In the meantime, he came in contact with people involved in highway robberies and joined them. About a fortnight ago, the Uttar Pradesh police found that he had fraudulently rented an Uttar Pradesh Food Corporation godown at Bhadrauli to stock stolen articles. The police said he had committed at least seven murders since November last year.

Ashok, who carries two rewards of Rs. 2,500 and Rs. 10,000 on his head, targeted trucks transporting tyres, mainly at Tundla, Bewar, Agra, Rampur, Kanpur and other places along NH-2 in Uttar Pradesh. His accomplices would first take lift in trucks, make the drivers and the cleaners consume food or drinks laced with intoxicants and then flee with the vehicles after dumping them. In case they faced resistance, they would kill the drivers and the cleaners. The police said Ashok had once fled from Bareilly Jail.

The accused disclosed that after merger of the gangs, they killed the driver and the cleaner of a truck at Kosi Kalan and fled with the vehicle. At their instance, the police have recovered the truck and are now planning to secure their custody for further probe into their involvements.

Mr. Chaudhry said the names of Harbans and Bijender have been recommended for out-of-turn promotions. Other team members also would be suitably rewarded for their valuable contribution in catching the dreaded criminals.

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