Three of robber-gang brought to Kochi

KOCHI: The police team probing the serial robbery in Kochi by a suspected 11-member gang comprising alleged Bangladeshi nationals has brought the three members of the gang for evidence collection at the residence in Eroor on Sunday. The three, held from Delhi three days ago, were brought to Kochi on Sunday.

The arrested, identified as Arhsad, Rony and Shehshad, were brought to the office of the Tripunithura Circle Office before taking to the Nanniltah House at Eroor from which the gang looted 50 sovereigns of gold, Rs 20,000 cash, mobile phones and other valuables after taking the members of the house as hostages.
Arshad, one of the accused, has explained how the gang broke the gate and entered house by cutting the rails of the windows and how the gangsters attacked the inmates of the house and tied-up them before decamping with the gold and other valuables. The other two, Rony and Shehshad, explained to the cops on how they reached the house through the road and went back. The gangsters were also taken to the cinema theatre in which they saw a movie before committing the robbery. The accused also said that they hid close to the bushes near the railway track before committing the crime to kill the time.

The accused also said that they went to the office of the Muthoot Finances in the guise of taking gold loan with the intention of sketching a house in the nearby area targeted by the gang for robbery. The inmates of the house have recognised the nine sovereigns of the gold and mobile phones looted by the gangsters. The accused said that the remaining gold and other valuables are with other members of the gang.

The police team led by Tripunithura circle inspector PS Shaju, sub-inspector Sanal conducted the evidence collection. The accused will be presented before the court on Monday before conducting an identification parade.

The police team meanwhile is interrogating Shameem, arrested from Bengaluru on Saturday in connection with the case. According to ACP K. Laljy, Shameem seems to be fully aware of the activities of the gang and he will be subjected to interrogation with the three arrested from Delhi. The gang leader Noorkhan and other seven accused in the case are suspected to have fled to Bangladesh.