Pune: Lashkar Police have arrested a gang leader involved in robbing pedestrians, along with his accomplice. They have also seized several stolen mobile phones and a moped without a number plate.
The arrested suspects have been identified as Ayaan Firdos Pathan (age 18) and Aniket Damu Arane (age 20), both residents of Bhavani Peth. The incident occurred on May 15, when a mobile phone was snatched from a pedestrian who was looking at messages while walking through the Sachapir Street area in the Lashkar locality. The victim subsequently lodged a complaint at the Lashkar Police Station.
According to police, the complainant was walking through the Sachapir Street area around 6 p.m. on Thursday evening when bike-borne thieves snatched the mobile from his hand. To identify the accused, police reviewed CCTV footage from the area and found that Ayaan and Aniket were responsible for the theft. A police team then went to Bhavani Peth to investigate. The duo was spotted riding a two-wheeler and was immediately taken into custody.
During interrogation, the accused confessed to committing thefts with the help of a minor. Police arrested the two and recovered the stolen mobile phones and an unregistered moped. Further investigations revealed that the duo had committed several snatchings in the jurisdictions of both Lashkar and Khadak Police Stations.
This operation was carried out under the guidance of Additional Police Commissioner Pravin Kumar Patil, Deputy Commissioner Smarta Patil, and Assistant Commissioner Deepak Nikam. The team was led by Senior Inspector Girishkumar Dighavkar and Crime Branch Inspector Pradeep Pawar, along with Sub-Inspector Rahul Ghadge, Shekhar Mokate, Constables Mahesh Kadam, Atul Menge, Sandeep Ukirde, Somnath Bansode, Sachin Manjre, Ramesh Choudhar, Sagar Haral, Lokesh Kadam, and Amol Kodilkar.
