Police arrests father, minor sons in auto robbery case

Mumbai: Govandi police arrested a gang of three persons, a father and his two sons, for targeting and robbing passengers after offering them a ride in their auto rickshaw. On Thursday, a woman was allegedly robbed by this gang, but she remembered the auto’s registration number and reported the matter, following which the police were able to nab them.

According to police officials, the accused has been identified as Ashfaque Ansari (28), a Mankhurd resident. The police said, “Ashfaque married twice and has four children from both his marriages. He was unable to take care of his family with just the income he received from driving an auto rickshaw. So he hatched a plan to rob the valuables belonging to the passengers.”

PSI Yusuf Shaikh said, “The accused drove around the city after 10 pm in the night, and would solicit fares from women and young boys, or stop his rickshaw near them. The moment he stopped his rickshaw and the passenger asked for ride, his son, who would be sitting behind, would lean out and snatch valuables from the commuter and they would then flee from the place.” On Thursday, a 25-year-old woman was waiting near Shivaji Nagar junction for a rickshaw to take her home to Chembur. “Around 10.30 pm, these culprits came and stopped near her, snatched her bag and fled from the spot.”