Duo, who posed as cops to rob a woman, is arrested within 24 hours of crime

BHAYANDAR: A 44-yearold woman became the latest victim of criminals who have earned notoriety for mounting violent assaults on pedestrians and motorists before robbing them of their valuables on the stretch of highway between the Dahisar Toll Plaza and Kashimira. However, the muggers ran out of luck this time. Thanks to the quick action by police personnel attached to Unit-XII of Crime Branch (Mumbai), the duo who apparently posed as cops to execute the crime landed behind bars with 24 hours. According to the police the incident was reported from outside Thakur Mall near the Dahisar check point at around 4 am on Thursday. The woman who is a resident of Colaba, was waiting for a cab when the accused duo came there in a black coloured car. Pretending to be cops from the local police station, the duo under the garb of routine check, allegedly pulled her into the car. The duo thrashed her before forcibly taking away Rs 9,500 cash and two mobile phones she was carrying. They fled after pushing her out of the car at an isolated spot. Though the crime had occurred under the jurisdiction of the Kashimira police station (Thane Rural), the Crime Branch unit sensed the gravity of the case and without wasting much time, a team led by Police Inspector’s Sachin Gavas and Mahesh Nivatkar under the supervision of DCP (Detection-I) Nisar Tamboli, swung into action and activated their informer network, this apart from scanning the presence of notorious history sheeters in and around the region. Based on a tip-off, the police team managed to nab the duo who have been identified as Rajesh Yadav and Neeraj Choudhary. After rounds of sustained interrogations, both confessed to the crime. The entire stolen booty along with the car used in the car has been recovered from the possession of the duo who were handed over to the Kashimira police. A case under sections 394, 364(A), 170 and 34 of the IPC has been registered against the duo who are presently cooling their heels in the lock-up of the Kashimira police station. Investigating officials have not ruled out the involvement of the duo in other similar crimes.