Inter-District Dacoity Gang Busted: Pune Rural Police Nab Two, Solve Six Cases

Pune Rural Crime Branch Police, along with Shirur Police Station, have arrested two members of a gang who have been involved in house robberies and thefts across multiple districts. The police have managed to solve six criminal cases, including two major dacoity cases, after the arrest.

The arrested goons have been identified as Sanjay Tukaram Gaikwad (45), of Dhangarwadi, Bhokardan, Jalna, and Sagar Suresh Shinde (19), of Sant Tukaram Nagar, Mantha, Jalna.

According to the police, on the night of July 5, a group of 5 to 6 masked thieves entered a house in Ambale village, Shirur taluka, and stole valuables worth ₹1.64 lakh. Victim Kalpana Ningbalkar (60) was sleeping in the house with her relative Ratnabai Shitole. The thieves entered the house by kicking open the door and attacked the two women with sticks. They stole gold and silver ornaments valued at ₹1.64 lakh and escaped. Regarding the matter, a complaint was registered on July 6 at Shirur Police Station.

Following the case, a Local Crime Branch (LCB) team started checking CCTV footage and found that the gang used a silver Tavera car for the robbery. The car was later spotted near the Pathardi area.

Acting on the tip-off, it was found that goon Sanjay Tukaram Gaikwad, from Jalna district, was using this car and was involved in the robbery. The police got information that Sanjay and his friend were travelling on the Pune-Nagar Road. Responding to the information, police arrested Sanjay Tukaram Gaikwad (45), from Bhokardan, Jalna, and Sagar Suresh Shinde (19), from Mantha, Jalna.

During interrogation, they admitted to the crime and revealed the involvement of five more gang members in the robbery.

A senior police official said the gang usually targets women during robberies. They beat women and snatch their jewellery. The gang was involved in several cases of dacoity, robbery, and theft registered in various districts like Jalna, Beed, Nashik, Aurangabad, Latur, Parbhani and Jalgaon.

Sanjay Gaikwad is the gang leader and a habitual repeat offender with 13 criminal cases against him. He was earlier booked under MCOCA and had spent 5 years in jail. He came out on bail just 6 months ago.

However, the matter is under investigation and all the members of the gang will be arrested soon.

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