Cops wounded as burglary suspect goes on blade attack in Aarey Colony

Illustration/Uday Mohite

What began as a late-night trap to catch a serial house theft accused inside Aarey Colony spiralled into a violent blade attack on policemen after the suspect allegedly turned on officers trying to arrest him near Film City Gate No. 1 in Goregaon East.

Three policemen, including the officer leading the operation, suffered hand injuries during the scuffle before the accused was finally overpowered and arrested. Police said the accused - a habitual offender recently released from jail - was wanted in two recent house theft cases involving stolen gold ornaments.

The accused

Name: Stalin Charles Coder
Age: 32
Residence: Ekta Nagar, Unit No. 32, Aarey Colony
Status: Recently released from jail before the latest theft cases

Investigation trail

>> CCTV footage captured suspicious movement near the crime scene
>> Trap laid under the guidance of Senior PI Ravindra Patil
>> Operation led by PSI Sachin Panchal and Crime Detection Team
>> FIR registered on complaint of Police Naik Yeshwant Mahale

Police lay trap after CCTV clues

After tracking the suspect through CCTV footage and local intelligence, PSI Sachin Panchal and the Crime Detection Team laid a check post trap near the back gate of Film City and another nearby point in Aarey Colony. As the accused, Stalin Charles Coder, entered the area late at night, officers moved in to intercept him.

Accused pulls blade, attacks cops

According to police, the moment PSI Panchal attempted to grab him, the accused pulled out a sharp blade and began swinging it wildly at the team. During the violent struggle, PSI Panchal, Police Naik Yeshwant Mahale, and Police Hawaldar Ganesh Patil suffered injuries to their hands while trying to restrain him.

Panic, self-injury and arrest

As more policemen rushed in as backup and began overpowering him, the accused allegedly injured himself with the blade in panic while resisting arrest. Despite being wounded themselves, the police team managed to pin him down and take him into custody. All injured officers and the accused were later rushed to Trauma Hospital for treatment before the accused was produced before the Borivali Metropolitan Magistrate Court.