Two arrested for looting tourists

The Pune Police crime branch arrested two robbers on the charges of looting couples and tourists at picnic spots around the city.

The suspects have been identified as Ganesh Mohan Buchade (25),resident of Walhekarwadi,Chinchwad and Madansingh Hirasingh Bhakuni (23),of Ashok Nagar,Thergaon.

Acting on a tip-off,a team of anti-extortion cell led by inspector Sachin Savant laid a trap and nabbed the suspects near Sarasbaug on Saturday and recovered knives from their possession.

Police said Bhakuni was earlier arrested in 2005 in an extortion case. He was convicted in the case and awarded life imprisonment,but he fled after being released from jail on parole.

The investigations revealed the suspects had looted a gold chain from a couple at Mulshi Dam about a month ago but the couple had not lodged a police complaint. Police,however,recovered the chain from the suspects.

Police said the suspects had also looted gold ornaments from couples in two cars at Pavana Dam. Then,about two months ago,they had looted jewellery from four tourists at Tamhini Ghat. Both the suspects are history-sheeters.

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