3 highway robbers, on the run since January, arrested

All the accused are historysheeters having committed the same offence on at least three counts, the police said.

The Nerul police arrested three alleged highway robbers on Wednesday who were at large since January after robbing a man of his car on the Mumbai Pune Highway.

The accused have been identified as Ambernath resident Malang Sheikh (32), Trombay resident Abdullah Rashid Sheikh (29) and Govandi resident Mujibul Rehman Khan (20). All the accused are historysheeters having committed the same offence on at least three counts, the police said.

According to the Nerul police, the victim, Shrikant Magar, was on his way back to his home in Pune on January 2 when he was allegedly robbed by the accused.

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“At around 9.30 pm that night, Magar gave a lift to three unknown persons that he picked up from L P Bridge in Navi Mumbai. After crossing the next toll naka, the accused made Magar pull over at gun point. The trio then bound Magar’s hands and legs with cello-tape and took a u-turn back to Mumbai,” said Sangeeta Alphonso, senior police inspector, Nerul police.

Alphonso added that Magar was dropped off at Andheri on the highway. “Magar registered the case of robbery with Nerul police. He was robbed of his Sedan, watch, wallet and Aadhaar card,” an officer with the Nerul police said.

According to Alphonso, the trio were at large for the past four months and attempted to sell the vehicle but were unsuccessful. “We were informed that the trio was Pune-bound to try and rob another person. We intercepted the car near D Y Patil Stadium and arrested them on Wednesday. They will be presented before a magistrate on Thursday,” an officer added.

mumbai.newsline@expressindia.com

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