Gang behind robberies at petrol stations, vends busted

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, June 19

The police claimed to have busted a gang of robbers involved in strikes at liquor vends and petrol stations with the arrest of three of its members. They have recovered a motorcycle and a toy pistol from their possession.

The suspects have been identified as Pavitar Singh Shera of Salem Tabri, Roop Lal Soni of Bhattian and Mahinder Singh of Jivanpur.

Commissioner of Police Rakesh Agrawal conducted a press conference on the matter on the official Facebook page of the Ludhiana police.

Agrawal said there were a number of incidents of loot at petrol stations and liquor vends. The CIA unit was asked to nab the culprits to prevent occurrence of such incidents in future.

After getting secret information, a naka was set up at Hawaas village where the police cornered the members of the gang.

Explaining their modus operandi, Agrawal said the gang was taking the benefit of the lockdown. They targeted petrol stations and liquor vends situated in isolated areas. The arrested members of the gang have a criminal past.

About two months ago, the gang robbed an employee of a petrol station of Rs 2,900 at Bonkra village; about one and a half months ago, they snatched Rs 3,500 from a petrol station employee at Shalu Bhaini village. On May 30, the gang robbed Rs 8,840 from a wine shop; and on June 5, they struck at a petrol station in Chaunta village where they robbed an employee of Rs 23,000.

About two weeks ago, the members of the gang broke the locks of a wine shop at Hadiwal village and decamped with cash and bottles of liquor. Agrawal said they would seek police remand of the suspects.