Nagpur: Continuing its crackdown against notorious criminals by registering cases under Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act, city police have booked the seventh gang under the law in the last one-and-half months. The gang of thieves was recently nabbed by Hudkeshwar police and has looted many people at knifepoint.
The gang of six is headed by 19-year-old Shaikh Salman, a resident of Tajbagh. Salman would direct the other members Gurudayal Tandekar, Prafulla Choudhary, Raju Shende, Gulrej Bakas and Shaikh Shakeel during the crimes. Four members of the gang were arrested after a short chase by patrolling cops at Besa, Hudkeshwar, on February 2. The gang had robbed a youth a few hours before their arrest. After interrogating the four, the cops caught the other two members.
Salman and his gang have looted more than five people at knifepoint in the last one year. DCP Ranjan Kumar Sharma said that the gang is suspected to be involved in more robbery cases registered at different police stations. Addressing the media, Sharma said the gang would target people in deserted areas. “Many times, the gang would assault the victims and
rob
them,” he said.
City police have so far booked 40 people of seven gangs under MCOCA charges and has successfully arrested 35 people. However, five people, including gangster Santosh Ambekar, are still absconding. Two more gangs are on the list of police to be booked under the law. Sharma said that though they found nothing from Ambekar’s house, police teams are searching for Ambekar at many places.
Regarding Ajay Raut’s kidnapping case, Sharma said that during interrogation Kottulwar has alleged role of bookie Sunil Bhatiya in Raut’s kidnapping. “Kottulwar has been changing his statements but the police team has started investigating Bhatia’s role in the case,” said Sharma. Police said that two more cops from Pachpaoli police station are likely to be suspended for having contacts with Diwakar Kottulwar. Police have already suspended Kuldeep Petkar from crime branch for his links with Kottulwar while he was absconding.
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