The Hindu : New Delhi News : Three arrested, burglaries solved

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Sep 09, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Three arrested, burglaries solved

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, SEPT. 8. Three persons have been arrested by the Special Staff of the South Delhi police for allegedly committing burglaries in many houses in Lodhi Colony and Sarojini Nagar. The police have recovered stolen jewellery worth Rs. 2 lakhs and other articles from the accused.

According to the police, some incidents of burglary in government colonies in South and South-West Delhi had occurred this past August following which the Special Staff were entrusted with the task of identifying the gang. Following a tip-off, a team, led by Inspector Rajender Singh, laid a trap at CGO Complex on Tuesday. Around 2 p.m., two suspects appeared on the scene on a motorcycle and were apprehended. Two knives were recovered from the duo, identified as Pradeep (22) and Suresh (24).

At their instance, the police arrested their third associate Sohanpal (28) near Sai Baba Mandir where he had gone to dispose of stolen property. Subsequently, the police recovered jewellery worth Rs. 2 lakhs, Rs. 7,000 in cash and house-breaking equipment from them.

Interrogation of the accused revealed that they had met each other in Tihar Central Jail where they were lodged in connection with cases of murder, rape, burglary and theft. Released in November, last year, the trio had formed a gang.

On August 9, the gang had struck in the house of Hari Shankar Singh, posted in the office of the Union Finance Minister and a resident of C-Block in Lodhi Colony. The gang escaped with huge amount of cash and jewellery. Around the same time, they also committed a burglary in the house of Virender Singh Rawat, a producer with a private news channel living in Sarojini Nagar. With the arrests, the police have worked out nine cases of burglary.

The police said the gang always looked for the houses which were locked during the day. While Pradeep used to break the locks using sophisticated instruments, Sohanpal kept vigil outside the house. Suresh used to conduct a recce.

While Sohanpal had also been involved in cases of burglary and theft in Mumbai, Pradeep was involved in similar crimes in Goa.

Earlier, Pradeep had remained in jail for about four years after being allegedly involved in burglaries reported from West, Central and South Delhi. He had left his father's house in Gurgaon at the age of 13 as his step-mother regularly ill-treated him. Sohanlal had killed one Rakesh in 1997 and sentenced for life. He was released last November on bail.

Suresh had molested a school girl in 1996. He was arrested and lodged in jail for one month. Two years later, he criminally assaulted the same girl to take revenge. After being convicted, he spent five years in jail and was released on account of good behaviour. He then joined hands with Pradeep and Suresh.

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