A 26-year-old history-sheeter known as ‘Masoom’ was arrested by Dindoshi police for allegedly robbing a waiter at knifepoint in Goregaon, Mumbai. The accused, Sabir Islam Sheikh, had created fear in the locality and faces multiple criminal cases, police said.
Sabir Islam Sheikh, aka Masoom. Pic/By Special Arrangement
The word Masoom is synonymous with terror in the narrow lanes of Goregaon’s Dindoshi area, where a 26-year-old self-styled don bearing this ironic nom de guerre allegedly carried out thefts and robberies at knifepoint, creating an atmosphere of fear so overpowering that residents hesitated to approach the police. For locals, the nightmare finally ended on January 31, after the accused, whose real name is Sabir Islam Sheikh, was arrested in connection with a violent robbery executed on Republic Day.
The robbery
According to police, on the day of the incident, the 52-year-old complainant, who works as a waiter at an eatery in Aarey Milk Colony, was returning home on his motorcycle.
The accused was arrested in Santosh Nagar, Goregaon East, in the evening of January 31. Representation Pic/iStock
The complainant stated that after parking his bike near his Santosh Nagar residence, an unknown man tripped him, abused him, and robbed him of '1500 in cash and his Aadhaar card at knifepoint. The accused also claimed to be a local don and issued threats to intimidate the victim.
When the complainant’s 18-year-old son intervened, the accused allegedly slashed the former’s right hand before fleeing. A case was subsequently registered at the Dindoshi police station under Sections 311, 309(6), 351, and 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Section 37(1)(A)/135 of the Maharashtra Police Act.
Acting on an informer’s tip, under the supervision of Senior Inspector Mahendra Shinde, PSI Ajit Desai, along with his detection team, apprehended Masoom in Santosh Nagar around 6.32 pm. During a personal search, they recovered cash, an Aadhaar card and a folding knife with a sharp blade, allegedly used in the crime. Masoom was produced before the Borivli metropolitan magistrate court, and he is in judicial custody.
Criminal history
Police revealed that Masoom is a history-sheeter with at least 11 previous criminal cases registered against him, including offences related to theft, housebreaking, robbery, and possession of weapons. Records show that he has been convicted in four cases by various courts.
A police source said that the accused had created an atmosphere of terror in the area and projected himself as the local don. On several occasions, after forcibly taking money and valuables from people’s pockets, he allegedly threatened to kill them if they approached the police. Due to the fear he instilled, many victims refrained from coming forward to lodge complaints.
“He is a repeat offender and poses a danger to public safety. He would snatch mobile phones and cash from passers-by, and if anyone resisted, he would threaten them by brandishing a knife,” the source said. Further investigation is underway to determine whether he was involved in other similar crimes and whether he had accomplices, said an officer.
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