Mumbai, Apr 16 (Mid-day): A couple spending time together at Carter Road, right near the office of the additional commissioner of police (West region), was assaulted and robbed at knifepoint by a gang of five on Monday night. The robbers even misbehaved with the woman.

Fortunately for the couple, the woman’s scream alerted the nearby Kolis, who, with a constable patrolling the area, managed to nab one of the robbers. He was identified as 23-year-old Sumit Ramchandra Yadav, resident of Vile Parle (West).

However, his accomplices managed to slip into the mangroves nearby. Despite the police cordoning the area and several teams scanning the mangroves, the remaining four accused managed to escape.

The incident

According to officials from Khar police station, the gang came in an auto and surrounded the couple. All five were armed, most of them with knives. Without prior warning, they assaulted the man and abused the couple. They threatened the couple that the gang were capable of harming them grievously, if they did not cooperate.

Fearing for their lives, the couple gave them all the money and their cellphones. While two were busy assaulting the man, the trio snatched the woman’s gold chain. The robbers even misbehaved with the woman, prompting her to scream for help.

Her cries were heard by the Kolis, who rushed to the couple’s rescue. A constable from Khar police station, who was patrolling the area on a motorcycle, joined them. They were successful in nabbing Yadav before he could slip into the mangroves.

Copspeak

Assistant Commissioner of Police (Bandra division) Shivaji Kolekar said, “The accused are habitual offenders and they mostly come in autos. All the accused are part of the same gang that follows the modus operandi of targeting couples at isolated locations.

The gang has several cases against it in Mahim, Trombay, Saki Naka, Yellow Gate, Versova, Juhu, Dindoshi, etc. They have cases against them in Khar as well. We hope to arrest the remaining four soon.”