The city police have apprehended two of the six individuals involved in an attempted armed robbery at a jewellery store in Panchavati, which occurred on May 15. The arrests were made after an extensive analysis of CCTV footage that led the authorities to Punjab. The remaining four suspects are still at large.
Arrests and Suspects
The suspects were captured on Tuesday and Wednesday from different locations in Punjab. The arrested individuals have been identified as Hanishkumar Mahendra Singh (47), a resident of Mohali, and Ranjit Singh Darshan Singh (52), from Patiala. According to DCP (Crime) Kirankumar Chavan, the accused originally met in Ambala jail and have maintained their association since then. They are seasoned criminals with prior offenses in other states. They traveled to Mumbai by car and then proceeded to Nashik to commit the dacoity, selecting Nashik at random.
Ranjit Singh, a former Indian Army serviceman, was previously arrested in a dacoity case while on leave in 2010, which led to his incarceration in Ambala jail.
Details of the Attempted Robbery
The attempted robbery took place around 9 PM on May 15. Six masked men arrived at a jewellery store in Hirawadi on two motorcycles. Posing as customers interested in purchasing a gold chain, they entered the store. Shortly after, one of them brandished a firearm and attempted to grab jewellery. However, the woman owner and two staff members resisted and raised an alarm, foiling the attempt. During the scuffle, one of the assailants struck a staff member on the head with the butt of the firearm before the gang fled empty-handed.
Investigation and Arrests
Following the incident, Police Commissioner Sandeep Karnik directed Crime Branch units to expedite the investigation. Investigators reviewed footage from nearly 500 CCTV cameras across the city and employed technical analysis to trace the suspects' movements. A team led by Sub Inspector Chetan Shrivant traveled to Mohali and arrested the duo after a three-day operation.
The police revealed that the gang had stayed at a lodge in Nashik for two days prior to the crime to scout targets. They chose the Hirawadi store due to its easy escape route and had stolen two motorcycles locally to execute the plan. After the failed attempt, the suspects fled back to Punjab. The arrested duo has been handed over to the Panchavati police, and efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining accused.
