Teens held for robberies

KOLKATA: Five youths, all within the age of 18, were arrested from Madhyamgram in North 24-Parganas on Saturday for involvement in robbery cases. Police have also seized four revolvers and 12 cartridges from them.
Police said the five teenagers Liton and Ripon Thakur, Class-IX and Class-VIII dropouts respectively, Class XII commerce students Suman Saha and Malay Debnath and Class-V dropout Santu Mondal apparently confessed that they used to rob people "for fun".The fathers of almost all the boys are traders, others are fish and vegetable sellers in Basirhat market. So, no financial constraint drove them to robbery, the boys have apparently admitted.
Police have seized four revolvers, 12 cartridges, around Rs 40,000 in cash, two cameras, two cellphones and some sharp weapons from them.
After interrogating the boys, police have learned that they have conducted a number of robberies in various places of North 24-Parganas in the past few months, including the one at Swapan Sarkar's flat in Barasat's Indraprastha apartment.
Police have also found out that the teenagers got firearms from a notorious criminal, Sona, who has been previously arrested. Police are trying to trace him but Sona is absconding. Police added that the teenagers used to operate between 7.30 pm and 8.30 pm.