In a dramatic turn of events, the Pune Rural Police have apprehended five individuals, including a sand mafia member, from Shirur on charges of abducting and assaulting a construction businessman. The accused, known for their criminal history, were captured by the police just as they were attempting to flee to Madhya Pradesh.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Ankur Mahadev Pabale (26), Dnyaneshwar alias Mauli Shrikant Pabale (25), Vishal alias Anna Shivaji Makar (23), Dilip Rama Atole (45), and Nilesh Baban Palaskar (35). During the arrest, the police confiscated five pistols and live ammunition from the accused.
The incident in question took place on September 2, when the victim, a construction businessman operating in the Shirur region, was reportedly abducted by the accused. The perpetrators subjected him to verbal and physical abuse and demanded an extortion payment of Rs 10 lakh. Furthermore, they allegedly threatened him, insisting that he purchase sand from their sources. When the victim refused, one of the accused brandished a firearm, pointing it menacingly at him. In fear for his safety, the victim agreed to pay Rs 1 lakh.
The police commenced an investigation into the matter upon receiving the complaint. However, tracking down the accused proved challenging as they frequently changed their locations. Nonetheless, the investigative team received information indicating that the suspects were making an attempt to escape to Madhya Pradesh to evade arrest. Subsequently, the police set up a trap, resulting in the arrest of three of the accused in the Koregaon Bhima area. After the initial arrests, the remaining two individuals were also captured.
The Shirur Police Station has already filed a case under the relevant sections of the law, and the arrested suspects have been remanded into police custody until October 21 by the court. The ongoing investigation is expected to unveil further details surrounding this case.
