Srinagar, Jan 28: Police Monday claimed to have arrested a gang of dacoits and recovered stolen goods and cash worth lakhs of rupees from their possession.
A police spokesman informed that on June 28, 2018, Police Station Nowgam received a complaint from a jeweler Abdul Rashid Zargar of Ichgam Budgam, that he was looted by a gang of four persons who took away his cash and jewellery worthy lakhs of rupees.
According to the complaint, Zargar while travelling from Pulwama to his home on June 27, 2018, was stopped by four persons at Suthoo Kalan who sought a ride in his car.
Zaragr, who at the time was carrying gold worth several lakhs and cash of Rs 5,50,000 with him, said that around 19:30 PM some unknown pheran-clad persons sporting beards and “masquerading as militants” intercepted his car and asked him to drop them at some safe place as Army was looking out for them.
On being refused a ride, they forcefully entered the car and took Zargar to some isolated place near Khanda, where they took away his car along with cash and gold as well his mobile phones, police said.
On this complaint, a case (FIR no. 62/2018) was registered in Police Station Nowgam.
During investigation, one suspect Mushtaq Ahmad Pandith alias Teja, son of Mohammad Sultan, resident of Kakapora Pulwama, was arrested. On questioning, he made vital disclosures regarding the dacoity and one lakh cash was recovered from him, police said.
On his disclosures, police arrested four more persons — Manzoor Ahmad Mir, son of Ghulam Rasool, resident of Badibag Pulwama (from whose possession police recovered gold worth Rs 12 lakhs and Rs 95,000 in cash); Javaid Ahmad Ganie, son of Abdul Rehman, resident of Mohnij Pulwama (from whose possession police recovered Rs 88,000 cash); Amir Manzoor Malik, son of Manzoor Ahmad, resident of Chatpora Pulwama (from whose possession police recovered Rs lakh cash) and Zahoor Ahmad Zargar, alias Beta, son of Assadullah, resident of New Colony Pulwama (from whose possession police recovered gold worth Rs 10 lakh).
Spokesman said police also recovered one WagonR vehicle and mobile phone from the burglars. Overall value of recovered property and cash is nearly Rs 28,88,000, police spokesman said.
