The City Police have arrested the main accused in the cases registered after 15 shops in Palarivattom were broken into on the night of February 19.
Ashraf, 24, also known as Ambayathodu Ashraf, of Kozhikode, is wanted in many cases of theft, robbery and pick-pocketing in different parts of the State. He was picked up by the special investigation team formed by City Police Commissioner M.R. Ajith Kumar immediately after the crime was reported.
The accused had allegedly pulled up the central portion of the downed shutters of shops to make a gap enough to get in. The method was successful as most often shutters were locked on both ends and not in the middle.
The accused has nearly 30 cases pending against him in Kozhikode and Malappuram. He allegedly committed the burglaries along with Viswaraj of Pulppally, whom he had met while in jail, and two others.
During interrogation, Ashraf told the police that he also broke into 40-odd shops in Paravur, Kunnamkulam and Palakkad during the last couple of months. Ashraf partnered with Paikadan Ashraf to break into eight shops in Palakkad. They took only objects that could be easily hidden and disposed off, said the police.
Poonjar Ashraf was picked up by Pattambi police after finding him under suspicious circumstances near Pattambi Railway Station and has been remanded to Ottappalam sub-jail. Paikadan Ashraf was sentenced to double life imprisonment for murdering an old woman in Nadapuram in 2003, while attempting to rob her earrings.
The police team are presently on the look-out for Viswaraj, who also has nearly 30 cases pending against him in Wayanad, Kozhikode and Malappuram, and Paikadan Ashraf. The special team comprising B. Rajan, Circle Inspector, Town North, S. Vijayasankar, sub-inspector, North and V. Gopakumar, sub-inspector, Palarivattom, formed under Sunil Jacob, Assistant Commissioner, Ernakulam, that made the arrest is hot on the trail of the absconding suspects.
Accused of child abuse
In a combined operation, Town Central Police and Njarakkal Police arrested a 50-year-old man on charges of abusing a 7-year-old girl.
A probe revealed that the accused, Alby of Edavanakad, was a manual labourer here after returning from a brief stint in West Asia. He was attempting to go abroad, allegedly after committing the crime. The investigating team received information that he was hiding in Palakkad with the help of a relative there, the police said.
By the time the police party reached Palakkad, the accused had moved to Coimbatore and the police picked him up from a lodge in Coimbatore at 4 a.m. He was brought to the Town Central Police Station later in the day and then transferred to Njarakkal police for further probe.
A case was registered by Town Central Police against the accused on the basis of a complaint lodged before Ernakulam District and Sessions Judge Kamal Pasha by the Child Welfare Committee. Later, the case was transferred to Njarakkal police and a combined investigation team was formed.
Chain snatching case
The shadow wing of the City Police arrested one person wanted in connection with many chain-snatching cases. Vinu Varghese, 31, known as Mohammed Afzal, Kannamali, was arrested on the basis of a tip-off received by Ammose Mamman, Assistant Commissioner of Police, District Crime Records Bureau.
He was arrested in a case registered at Thoppumpady police station and went into hiding in 2006 after coming out on bail. The shadow police challenged him after finding him under suspicious circumstances near Kaloor.
