PUNE: The Kondhwa police, following the arrest of two suspects from New Delhi, have claimed to have got a breakthrough in the series of robberies committed on Yemeni nationals over the past year.
“We have solved one of the four cases that occurred on Feb 8 at Ashirwad Chowk and are in touch with the victims of the other three cases to ascertain the suspects’ involvement,” assistant inspector Lekhaji Shinde of the Kondhwa police said.
The duo, posing as policemen, had allegedly robbed a Yemeni couple of Rs 4.79 lakh at Ashirwad Chowk in the Kondhwa area.
The suspects were identified as Sikander Ali Khan (44) and Irfan Hussain Hashmi (44), both from Jangpura (South) in New Delhi.
“The duo are well-versed in Arabic and used to strike up a conversation with the Yemeni couple. They told police that they run a garment trading business in the capital,” Shinde said.
The officer said after the duo fled Ashriwad Chowk, the police picked up a 750km long trail and checked footage from over 600 CCTV cameras to track the suspects.
Police checked footage of cameras from Khalapur toll plaza to Navi Mumbai and then to Turbhe, Thane, Palghar, Gujarat, and Daman and Diu, where the duo’s cellphones were traced to.
“The two men were arrested under the supervision of senior inspector Santosh Sonawane on Feb 20,” Shinde said.
The police recovered a Four-wheeler with two fake number plates, $3,000 and Rs 53,000 from them.
“Khan is the key suspect, while Hashmi is his childhood friend. During questioning, the duo admitted to their role in the crime and to have taken aid from two other accomplices, who are presently on the run,” Shinde said.
The suspects were aware that a large number of Yemeni nationals frequented the city for medical treatment. The police said the suspects were also aware that the Yemeni nationals stayed at rented accommodations at a walking distance from the hospitals and would carry cash and medical documents to the hospital.
The Yemeni nationals also do not speak English or local languages, and the suspects took advantage of the situation. The duo committed the crime while posing as policemen and on the pretext of frisking the nationals.
“We have solved one of the four cases that occurred on Feb 8 at Ashirwad Chowk and are in touch with the victims of the other three cases to ascertain the suspects’ involvement,” assistant inspector Lekhaji Shinde of the Kondhwa police said.
The duo, posing as policemen, had allegedly robbed a Yemeni couple of Rs 4.79 lakh at Ashirwad Chowk in the Kondhwa area.
The suspects were identified as Sikander Ali Khan (44) and Irfan Hussain Hashmi (44), both from Jangpura (South) in New Delhi.
“The duo are well-versed in Arabic and used to strike up a conversation with the Yemeni couple. They told police that they run a garment trading business in the capital,” Shinde said.
The officer said after the duo fled Ashriwad Chowk, the police picked up a 750km long trail and checked footage from over 600 CCTV cameras to track the suspects.
Police checked footage of cameras from Khalapur toll plaza to Navi Mumbai and then to Turbhe, Thane, Palghar, Gujarat, and Daman and Diu, where the duo’s cellphones were traced to.
“The two men were arrested under the supervision of senior inspector Santosh Sonawane on Feb 20,” Shinde said.
The police recovered a Four-wheeler with two fake number plates, $3,000 and Rs 53,000 from them.
“Khan is the key suspect, while Hashmi is his childhood friend. During questioning, the duo admitted to their role in the crime and to have taken aid from two other accomplices, who are presently on the run,” Shinde said.
The suspects were aware that a large number of Yemeni nationals frequented the city for medical treatment. The police said the suspects were also aware that the Yemeni nationals stayed at rented accommodations at a walking distance from the hospitals and would carry cash and medical documents to the hospital.
The Yemeni nationals also do not speak English or local languages, and the suspects took advantage of the situation. The duo committed the crime while posing as policemen and on the pretext of frisking the nationals.