3 held for robbing collection agent

THE GANG HAS AN EXTENSIVE CRIMINAL HISTORY WITH OVER 10-11 ROBBERY AND LOOT CASES. A FOURTH SUSPECT IS YET TO BE HELD, SAID THE POLICE

NOIDA: The police on Thursday arrested three men in connection with a ₹12 lakh robbery case reported on August 19.

That day, a 30-year-old money collection agent for a Delhi-based businessman was allegedly waylaid by three armed men in Noida’s Sector 104, while on his way back to Delhi with the money. They allegedly snatched his phone, helmet and a bag that had ₹12.7 lakh.

Following the incident, the Noida police commissioner suspended the Sector 39 police station house officer for dereliction of duty.

Police said five teams worked on the case and on Thursday the Noida crime branch got a tip about the three planning another robbery in the city. They set up multiple checkpoints in the city and at around 1.45pm, three riders on a motorcycle were asked to stop on a road leading to Model Town under the jurisdiction of the Sector 58 police.

“They tried to flee and fired at the police team that gave chase. Two suspects were injured in retaliatory fire, while the other managed to flee. He was apprehended later during combing operations,” said additional deputy commissioner of police (Zone 1) Kumar Ranvijay Singh.

Police identified the suspects as Rakesh and Subodh Rai, natives of Mathura and Bihar and who were taken to the district hospital for treating their minor injuries suffered in the alleged encounter, while the third was Suraj also from Mathura. Suraj was produced before a local court that sent him to judicial custody, they added.

According to police, the gang had an extensive criminal history with over 10-11 cases of robberies and loots.

A fourth suspect who allegedly provided them with information on targets is yet to be arrested, they added.

“Their modus operandi was to identify money collection agents, follow them for a few days to identify their routes and then rob them. We have recovered ₹8.23 lakh from the suspects in connection with the August 19 case along with the victim’s phone and helmet. They claim to have given the rest of their money to various relatives. The exact amount taken on August 19 is yet to be verified,” said Singh.

Police also recovered the motorcycle used in the crime, three other phones, a bag of clothes and two countrymade pistols from them.