The police team probing the robberies at Thripunithura and Pulleppady has arrested three persons from New Delhi in this connection.
The arrested have been identified as Arshad, the mastermind behind the attacks, his aides Shehshad and Roni. They were taken into custody with the assistance of Delhi police following an inquiry based on CCTV visuals.
The accused will be brought to Kochi on Sunday.
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Official sources said a team by Hill Palace Circle Inspector P.S. Shiju arrested Arshad from his residence at the Housing Colony at Dilshad Garden, New Delhi, in the early hours of Wednesday. About half of the gold ornaments looted from Thripunithura were recovered from the residence of Arshad.
Based on the inputs received from him, the police later zeroed in on Shehshad and Roni. Searches are on to trace the remaining members of the gang who reportedly escaped to West Bengal.
A gang comprising around 11 members broke into the house of Nannappilli Anandakumar near the Hill Palace around 2.30 a.m. on December 16 last year. They tied up the family members and decamped with 50 sovereigns of gold, three mobile phones and ₹20,000.
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On the previous day, the armed gang attacked an elderly couple residing at Pulleppady and took away their gold ornaments.