HYDERABAD: Some thirty months after a racecourse bookie was robbed of Rs. 4 lakhs and killed in Mahendra Hills, police zeroed in on the assailants on Monday by arresting four persons.

The four-member gang led by Shaik Abdul Sajid had also confessed to looting of Rs. 2 lakhs from a petrol bunk employee in Narayanguda, 11 chain snatchings and two burglaries, the Commissioner of Police, V. Dinesh Reddy, told a press conference.

Meticulous planner

The gang leader Sajid, aged around 38 years was stated to be a meticulous planner and after selecting his prospective victims, he would plant one of his accomplice as a worker to collect information about the money and valuables.

In the Narayanguda dacoity case, his accomplice worked as a cleaner at the petrol bunk and after learning about details of money being deposited, the gang waylaid the petrol bunk worker in March 2001, attacked him with knives and took away Rs. 2 lakhs cash.

Mr. Reddy said Sajid worked as a driver in Dubai and on return to Hyderabad started fruits business.

However, he took to crime after suffering losses.

Lavish life

He reportedly used to lead a lavish lifestyle and go to the Malakpet racecourse.

"That is when he cast his eyes on Munawar Shah," the Goshamahal ACP Sridhar Rao explained. After tracking movements of the bookie, they waylaid and killed him in February 2003.

On three occasions, the gangsters followed him, but dropped the robbery plan.

Police said Sajid was also responsible for the burglary in his sister's house in Charminar where he took away gold ornaments.

Incidentally, Sajid and his younger brother Khalid were arrested by the CCS officials in connection with the robbery of 7.5 kgs gold from two Mumbai jewellers at Begum Bazar a few months ago.

The brothers did not confess to the bookie's murder during the interrogation then and were sent to jail subsequently.

Arrested persons

The other associates of Sajid who were arrested include: Mohd. Toufiq Ali, 24, of Doodbowli, Mujahid Baig, 25, of Tolichowki and Shaik Abdul Asif, 22, of Talabkatta.

Gold ornaments worth Rs. 4.5 lakhs, three daggers and a scooter were seized from them, the police said.

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