Gang hijacks truck moving cigarettes worth Rs 5 crore

PUNE: A container carrying cigarettes worth over Rs 5 crore was waylaid by seven men on Monday night near Chakan.
The gang also abducted the driver and later released him in Palghar district. The driver, 33-year-old Bhagvat Dahe of Beed district, approached the Chakan police on Wednesday and lodged a complaint. The police have registered an offence of dacoity against the gang.
An officer from the Chakan police said on Monday afternoon Dahe had loaded around 650 boxes of cigarettes in the truck at a company in Shikrapur.“When he was on his way to Chakan, a black SUV blocked the truck’s way near Rase village in Khed taluka,” the officer said.
Some men climbed into the truck’s cabin and thrashed Dahe. “They dumped him at the back of the cabin,” the officer said. On Tuesday morning, the suspects released him at Palghar district and fled with the container. Dahe lodged the complaint, on Wednesday.
A team has been sent to Palghar district for the probe. “We are checking the CCTV footage at toll plazas,” the officer said.