In a daring and meticulously planned heist, seven armed thieves targeted the Uttambhagya gold and silver shop in the bustling market of Manchar town in the early hours of Wednesday, November 8th. The audacious criminals climbed through the roof of the third floor, making off with gold, silver ornaments, and cash valued at six and a half lakh rupees.
However, it was the courage and quick thinking of siblings Yash Samaddiya (21) and Jaina Samaddiya (17) that thwarted the burglary attempt. Their cries for help attracted the attention of nearby citizens and prompted a swift response from the Manchar police, leading to the apprehension of five thieves caught red-handed, while two managed to escape into the darkness.
The targeted shop, owned by Abhijit Samaddiya, witnessed a meticulously planned entry by the thieves, who climbed a drainage pipe to reach the roof of the third floor, broke through a door, and descended directly into the store below. The entire incident was captured on CCTV cameras, albeit with the cameras turned aside.
The siblings, Yash and Jaina, displayed remarkable bravery during the ordeal. Yash confronted the thieves, sustaining injuries in the process, while Jaina fought back by kicking one of the intruders and biting them when they attempted to silence her.
The siblings were then confined to the room of their elderly grandmother, Lalita (72). Abhijit, alerted by the screams, viewed the CCTV footage on a mobile device and discovered that the siblings were missing. Suspecting foul play, he contacted the authorities and concerned citizens, leading to the swift arrest of five thieves on the roof, with the search for the remaining two ongoing.
The police have identified the arrested individuals as Vaibhav Balu Rokade (24), Ganesh Ramchandra Toke (26), Ajay Ghise (23), Gyansingh Verma (23), and Mohammad Darji (23), and have made a recovery of six lakhs and fifty thousand rupees. A comprehensive investigation is underway to determine the thieves’ previous activities, local connections, and potential involvement with other criminals in the area.
Pune Rural Superintendent of Police Ankit Goyal and Additional Superintendent of Police Mitesh Gatte have commended the efforts of the Manchar police team and citizens for their quick and effective response.
