The Mathura Police have apprehended four members of a dacoit gang responsible for a highway robbery near Kittur, Belagavi on the Pune-Bengaluru National Highway a month ago. The gang absconded with over Rs 10 lakh from a Karnataka steel businessman. During the arrest, two suspects were shot in the leg in an encounter with the police from Jaint police station and the SOG team. All four were sent to jail on Wednesday.
The incident occurred on June 30, between 6:30 and 7:00 am, when a Nexon car with the number KA 17 MA 1992, traveling from Belagavi to Shivamogga, was intercepted and robbed of Rs 10 lakh. The victims, Sunil Prajapat and Srichand, were beaten up during the robbery. An FIR was lodged at Kittur police station on July 3.
SSP Shailesh Kumar Pandey reported that information about a car without a number plate carrying armed criminals on the highway led to a police blockade on Devi Atas Bamba Road from Ramtal Road. When the police attempted to stop the car, the criminals opened fire, resulting in two of them being shot in the leg in retaliation. The remaining two suspects were safely apprehended. The police recovered four pistols, nine cartridges, and Rs 10.35 lakh from the car. The accused were identified as Hiranath from Bhadowas, Bikaner; Ravi alias Ravindra from Gopal Nagar, Highway, Mathura; Laxmannath from Binadesar, Churu, Rajasthan; and Rahul from Kamai, Barsana, Mathura. Hiranath and Ravi sustained leg injuries during the encounter.
The four suspects have confessed to the robbery near Kittur. The Kittur police will take custody of them after the court process is completed. The recovered Rs 10.35 lakh was allegedly taken by the gang along with associates Dharmendra alias Kulli and Arun, both from Mathura, and Bhagwan Shah from Alwar, Rajasthan, during the June 30 robbery.
SSP Pandey stated that Karnataka police have been informed about the arrests. A reward of Rs 25,000 will be awarded to the SOG and Jaint police team for apprehending the criminals.
The court process is ongoing, and another team will be dispatched to Mathura soon. The police have seized Rs 10 lakh, a village pistol, and 16 cartridges from the suspects.