Two attempt to rob petrol pump using toy gun, held

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: The MIDC Waluj police have arrested two men, who made a futile attempt to rob a fuel pump using a toy gun.The arrested men have been identified as Rahim Shaikh, a 24-year-old resident of Kamlapur, and Arbaz Shaikh, an 18-year-old from Dattanagar in the Gangapur tehsil of the district.Records have revealed that Shaikh hails from Hadgaon in Nanded district, and to evade police’s radar in that district, he had shifted to Ranjangaon Shenpunji.Police said the accused reached the fuel station around 10am and were seen waiting for the fuel station manager. The fuel station manager, as a part of his daily routine, carries a bag containing cash that is to be deposited in a bank.Senior inspector Avinash Aghav said, “The manager spotted the suspects on the CCTV. On noticing them act suspiciously, the manager did not step out. Around the same time, a policeman reached the petrol station to fill fuel in his vehicle. The petrol pump emp[loyees alerted him about the suspects.”As soon as the policeman approached the two suspects, they tried to flee, but were caught. An alert was passed on to Dial 112. Subsequently, police teams reached the spot and took charge of the accused duo, who were found carrying a toy gun.Aghav said that Rahim Shaikh is a criminal on record, and has serious criminal cases registered against him in Nanded. “The accused have confessed to their intention of committing robbery. We suspect one of these men is currently wanted in some criminal offences. For now, based on the complaint of the fuel station manager, both have been booked and arrested under IPC section 393 for attempting to commit robbery,” said Aghav.