Police bust major gang of robbers

KOLHAPUR, Dec 29: With the arrest of 23-year-old notorious criminal Santosh Redekar and eight of his accomplices yesterday from the plush...

KOLHAPUR, Dec 29: With the arrest of 23-year-old notorious criminal Santosh Redekar and eight of his accomplices yesterday from the plush Tarabai Park area, the police are claiming to have foiled Redekar8217;s attempt to form his own gang operating in western Maharashtra and Konkan.

According to Shahupuri police, Redekar has a record of eleven serious offences including murder, attempt to murder, kidnap and looting of passengers in Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur and Ratnagiri districts. He was an active member of Prashant and Pramod Shinde gang since 1994. The police believe that Redekar was trying to break away from the Shindes who currently are serving prison terms.

In a Sunday midnight action, Shahupuri police had arrested Redekar and his accomplices who were preparing for a robbery from their new found hideout Redekar8217;s brother-in-law8217;s Sardar Colony bungalow. A cache of sharp weapons including ten swords and two rifles were seized from the bungalow.

8220;In just four years since 1994 Redekar had cases registered against him at Patan and Wai police stations in Satara, Kurulup and Islampur police stations in Sangli, Karveer, Shahupuri and Rajarampuri police stations in Kolhapur and at Ratnagiri police station. All these offences are realted to kidnap of passengers, looting them and attempting their murder if someone tries to protest,8221; a senior police officer told The Indian Express today.

Interestingly, all the nine accused barring Redekar8217;s brother-in-law Kishore Jadhav were below 23. Some of them were found to be merely 21 years old and studying, police said.

The police believe that the gang had planned to kidnap someone8217; and demand a huge ransom from the family members. 8220;Redekar has such a record that he could easily indulge in extortion rackets. He must have attempted it in past also. Unfortunately such cases rarely come on record,8221; said another official.

Just a few days ago Redekar celebrated his birthday when he was gifted with a Tata Sumo vehicle from his well-wisher, still unknown to police. Police are now trying to trace the donor of such a costly vehicle to Redekar.

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Earlier, Shahupuri police lead by Inspector Narendra Waghmale had swung into action after receiving a specific tip-off about Redekar planning to strike at Tarabai Park.

The entire Tarabai Park area was cordoned off shortly before Sunday midnight while all the roads leading to Tarabai Park were sealed, police said. Santosh was nabbed before he could act along with seven of his accomplices. Redekar8217;s brother-in-law Jadhav was also arrested, police said.

The accused including Tushar Savant, Vishal Patole, Sachin Bobhate, Pravin Patil, Dileep Patil, Sujit Naik and Sharad Savant were produced before chief judicial magistrate later in the day and were remanded to police custody till January 2.

The swords were found to be locally made while police did not elaborate on the other arms. No ammunition was found in the bungalow, it was stated.