Mumbai: Five Bangladeshi nationals have been arrested by the Kashimira unit of Thane rural police for allegedly committing a dacoity at the residence of a local resident, Gokul Wagh. The accused looted cash and valuables worth Rs 8.98 lakh from the resident.
SP Mahesh Patil said that the police suspect the accused may have perpetrated more such crimes in the Mira-Bhayandar-Vasai belt, holding victims and their families at knife point after breaking in through window grills. SP Patil said that the accused may be involved in as many as 15 dacoities. They were staying in Vasai and drove a stolen Chevrolet car, he said.
Acting on a tip-off, the police laid a trap near Versova chowk and arrested the five accused identified as Mohammad Palash Hawaldar (32), Lukman Miyan (23), Bappi Shaikh (27), Mohammad Latif Shaikh (31) and Mohammad Ali (28) – all Bangladeshi nationals.
The accused were driving the Chevrolet when they were intercepted. Upon checking the car, the police found weapons and looted articles.
Further questioning revealed that of the five accused, only Miyan and Bappi Shaikh had entered the country legally while the other three had infiltrated via the railway without legal documents. The accused followed a modus operandi of cutting through window grills and robbing victims by threatening them.
The accused have been booked under relevant sections of the IPC and remanded to police custody till Tuesday.
