A four-member gang which was involved in robbery, chain snatching and two-wheeler theft cases in the city was arrested by a special police team here on Friday.
A pistol, couple of single barrel rifles, 17 rounds, over one kilogram of explosive powder, Rs.1.20 lakh cash, two motorcycles, five sovereign gold chain and four lorry batteries were seized from the accused – S. Raveendran (31), R. Muneer alias Syed Mohamed Imam (32), R.Krishnakumar (25) and P.Rajkumar (28).
The value of the property seized has been put at Rs.4 lakh. Barring Rajkumar, a native of Kulithalai in Karur district, the rest are from Tiruchi.
The special team constituted to detect robbery, chain snatching and two wheeler theft cases was conducting vehicle checks on the Tiruchi – Pudukottai main road near TVS Tollgate when the above four persons who came in two motorcycles were caught and interrogated.
During interrogation the four confessed that they were involved in robbery cases as well as in chain snatching and motorcycle theft cases besides stealing a lorry battery, the Commissioner of Police E. Ma. Masanamuthu told the media here on Saturday.
IG Masanamuthu said Raveendran who ran a workshop at Ariyamangalam in the city bought a pistol at Kanpur through his North Indian friend from Uttar Pradesh. The single barrel rifles were recovered from the house of Rajkumar, he said adding that the gang members were involved in seven cases in the city limit.
The gang had planned to commit a major robbery using arms, IG Masanamuthu said. Replying to a query on the spurt in chain snatchings in the city, the Commissioner said special parties were on the job of tracking the culprits.
Jewellery shop burglary
Investigation into the burglary of a jewellery shop in the city last month was underway. Ten chance prints had been lifted from the shop and involvement of professional criminals is being looked into.
One of the special teams had gone to North India in connection with the case, he said. The Commissioner later presented cash awards to the special team members who apprehended the gang. The Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) S.Jayapandian was present.
