Hawkers robbed in day-light

PUNE, Sept 23: A knife wielding history-sheeter and his accomplice allegedly attacked and robbed two hawkers and a rickshaw-driver in crowded Khadki bazar during the peak hours of Wednesday morning.

Police said Santosh Mohan Khairale, who has been a suspect in more than 30 cases of thefts and robberies, indulged in the daring robbery within a week after he completed one-year-long externment from Pune. Jabir Rafiq Shaikh, the alleged accomplice of Khairale, was injured when nabbed and thrashed up by the irate vendors. He has been hospitalised, police said.

However, they said, Khairale took advantage of the chaos that ensued and made good his escape in an autorickshaw parked at the market place. A search is on to track him.

Meanwhile, garment vendor Rejeshkumar Gupta 19 has lodged a First Information Report FIR at Khadki police station. The FIR accused Khairale and Shaikh of attacking Gupta and relieving him of Rs 5,000 in cash. Khairale and Shaikh allegedly thrashed up another vendor Lalchand Rathod when he tried to intervene.