PUNE: An alert constable, Ankush Kengale, intercepted and overpowered a gun-wielding man fleeing a jewellery store after a failed robbery attempt at Ambedkarnagar in Kondhwa around 9.30pm on Thursday.
The police later ascertained that the arrested man, Saud Asif Sayyad (19), a resident of Camp, was one of the two motorcycle-borne men, who robbed pharmacies and eateries in Kondhwa, Wanowrie and Koregaon Park since Tuesday night.
“We have seized the firearm from Sayyad,” senior inspector Sardar Patil of the Kondhwa police said.
Inspector Gokul Raut of the Kondhwa police said, “We have also identified the source from where Sayyad procured the country-made pistol and we will soon arrest that person too.”
Deputy commissioner of police (Zone-V) Namrata Patil told TOI, “We are yet to arrest Sayyad’s accomplice. We are investigating if more suspects are involved with them in the recent robberies. We are verifying if Sayyad has any criminal antecedent.”
Mukesh Gugaliya (50), the owner of Arihant Jewellers, has filed a complaint with the Kondhwa police.
Sayyad has been charged with offences punishable under sections 307 (attempt to murder), 397 & 398 (both related to armed robbery/dacoity with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt), 453 (house-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint) and 342 (wrongful confinement) of the Indian Penal Code and relevant sections of the Indian Arms Act.
Cop overpowers armed man after failed robbery attempt
The road in front of Arihant Jewellers at Ambedkarnagar is narrow and connects Kondhwa with Katraj-Kondhwa Road. Gugaliya told TOI, “I was about to close my shop when this man (Sayyad) moved in an d pulled the shutter half down from inside. He pulled out a pistol and demanded money. When I refused, he demanded gold jewellery. I tried to pick up a stick in the shop and the man reacted by firing a round. I dodged and the bullet hit the false ceiling. He fired one more round.”
“I picked up a box and hurled it at him. My employee, too, started raising an alarm. By then, people from our neighbouring sho ps came out, leaving him with no choice but to run away from the shop. My employee and others gave him a chase and helped the constable nab him,” Gugaliya said. He added, “The intruder’s a ccomplice, who was waiting outside on the motorcycle, drove away sensing trouble.”
RK Jha, whose paan stall is opposite the jewellery store, told TOI, “The two men on a motorcycle stopped near a stall next to the jewellery store some 15 minutes prior to the robbery bid. One of them with a hefty build got down. He was wearing a jacket and carrying a backpack. He was constantly looking at the jewellery store, as there were customers. I thought that the duo must be accompanying one of the customers.”
Jha said as soon as the last customer came out, he rushed into the store and pulled the shutter ha lf down from inside.
“I saw him taking out a pistol and I alerted our owner, who stays behind the stall. Within a couple of seconds I heard two gunshots,” Jha said. “We tried to catch the man on the motorcycle, but he drove away towards Katraj-Kondhwa Road,” said Jha.
How The Constable Nabbed The Culprit Sayyad, who found himself in the lurch as his accomplice ha d already driven away, started running from the spot.
“He was shouting to terrorise the people on the road,” a daily wage worker, who joined the chase, said.
Const able Ankush Kengale, who had returned from a court duty and was on his way to patrolling at Ambedkarnagar, said, “I heard a commotion and saw a person running with a firearm in his hand and some people giving him a chase. I parked my vehicle and waited for the man to approach me. I pretended to make way for the armed man and caught his hand that was holding the firearm before g iving him a tight embrace to limit his movement.”
He a dded, “ The p eople behind zeroed in and helped me overpower the man. I alerted my senior officers and a police team reached there and brought him to the police station.”
