In a swift operation, the Keesara police under the Malkajgiri Police Commissionerate have arrested five individuals linked to a brazen daylight robbery attempt at a jewellery shop on the outskirts of Hyderabad. The incident, which unfolded on Friday evening near Nagaram, saw the assailants assault the shop owner with an axe before their plan was foiled by the victim's resistance and a subsequent technical investigation.
Modus Operandi: A Detailed Recce and Coordinated Attack
The robbery was meticulously planned, according to Malkajgiri Deputy Commissioner of Police Ch Sridhar. Three of the accused—Mohd Saif Ali (23), Rajendar Singh (19), and Ratan Singh Bahadur (23)—first entered the shop posing as customers to conduct a thorough recce. After assessing the situation and signalling that conditions were favourable, they exited to avoid raising suspicion.
Immediately afterwards, the remaining two accused, Nazeem Azeez Kotadiya (39) and Bishu Karma Ekendar Singh (24), entered the premises armed with an axe and a dummy pistol. They launched a sudden attack on the shop owner, Sandeep Gehloth, injuring him on the head with the axe. The duo then grabbed gold ornaments, packed them into a bag, and attempted to flee.
Victim's Courage and Police Investigation Thwart Robbery
Despite his injury, Sandeep Gehloth showed remarkable courage and resisted the attackers. His struggle led to the recovery of the main bag containing the bulk of the stolen jewellery. However, the offenders managed to escape on a motorcycle with a small quantity of gold ornaments.
The Keesara police launched a coordinated probe, leveraging technical surveillance and field intelligence. This investigation led to the arrest of all five accused persons. Police revealed that the gang had specifically targeted jewellery shops on the city's outskirts, selecting locations that provided quick escape routes.
Criminal Histories and Seized Evidence
Police records indicate that several of the arrested are habitual offenders. Nazeem, Bishu, and Saif have multiple cases of robbery and property offences registered against them at various police stations across Telangana. Ratan is a known rowdy sheeter with a record at the Gudimalkapur police station. Notably, preventive detention proceedings under the PD Act had previously been invoked against Nazeem by the Cyberabad police.
During the arrests, police seized significant evidence, including:
- The car used by the accused.
- The stolen motorcycle used in the immediate getaway.
- A dummy pistol used to intimidate the shop owner.
Further investigation is ongoing to determine the accused's potential involvement in other similar crimes and to recover the remaining stolen gold ornaments.
