Late-night confrontation on P D’Mello Road results in three arrests; cops say other gang members still at large
More than a week later, three accused, all residents of the Wadi Bunder in Dongri, were arrested. ILLUSTRATIONS/UDAY MOHITE
A late-night copper wire theft in South Mumbai escalated into a violent confrontation after three men allegedly threatened a watchman with knives when he attempted to stop them, police said on Thursday. The accused were arrested from the Wadi Bunder-Dongri belt, while police suspect the involvement of others and have launched a search for the rest of the gang.
The incident took place on Tuesday near Manohar bar at Wadi Bunder, where the replacement of old telephone and power cables is underway along the northern carriageway of P D’Mello Road. The complainant, Manikandan Pitchemani Nadar, 36, a supervisor associated with the cable replacement work and a resident of Goregaon East, told police that the accused arrived at the site late at night carrying cutters.
The trio was pulling out old telephone and power cables when confronted by watchman Venkatesh Giri on the night of December 9
When watchman Venkatesh Giri, who had been deployed to guard the site, noticed the theft and tried to intervene, the accused allegedly brandished their weapons and restrained him before fleeing with around 23 metres of copper wire, valued at approximately Rs 70,000. The stolen material has not yet been recovered.
Based on the complaint, police registered a case of robbery and, under the guidance of DCP (Zone I) Dr Pravin Mundhe, arrested Laxman Hanumant Pawar, 48; Bhima Hanumant Pawar, 39; and Kanya Ganesh Chavan, 22, all residents of the Wadi Bunder footpath area in Dongri.
They reportedly are lemon-and-chilli vendors. The arrests were made on December 12 with the help of the police detection staff. Five other suspects — identified as Julie, Ibo, Hasin and Ajay, along with several unidentified men — are absconding. Police believe the gang has been involved in similar thefts.
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