SURAT – The quiet midday in Adajan area was shattered as three bike-borne assailants targeted a local businessman, spiraling into a series of investigations led by the Surat Crime Branch that successfully arrested two of the involved individuals.
The victim, identified as Ravibhai, owns a wholesale shop dealing in paan and cold drinks in the Palanpur Patiya locality. On the fateful day, as he was heading home post shutter-down, the trio intercepted him. Armed with knives, they attacked Ravibhai, making away with a bag containing 8 lakh rupees. The violent encounter left him injured and necessitated immediate medical attention at a nearby private hospital.
Swift Police Response
The incident that transpired between 11:30 am and 12:00 noon on a Tuesday not only drew a quick response from local police forces, including the Adajan Police and the Special Operations Group but also sparked a city-wide manhunt, fueled by vital leads from the CCTV footage obtained from the vicinity of the crime scene.
Breakthrough via CCTV
The determined efforts of the crime branch bore fruit as they zeroed in on two individuals involved in the operation. The accused have been identified as Amul Pandit Mohite, 22, a resident of Udhna Road, and Sachin Laxman alias Shakti Telugu, 26, a tenant residing in Udhna, Surat. The police successfully recovered valuables amounting to 3.55 lakh rupees, which included cash and a Burgman bike, utilized in the felony.
Accused Spill the Beans
During interrogation, a tale of premeditation unfolded. The plan was conceived nearly three months ago under the directive of a third accomplice, Renew Verma, employed at Shankar Traders, a tobacco shop located on Rander Road. Verma noticed the businessman's routine of traveling alone with a substantial amount of money and saw an opportunity for a heist. A reconnaissance was executed to acquaint Amul Mohite and another yet-to-be-named accomplice with the premises and the daily routine of the victim. However, the plan had to be shelved temporarily due to the unavailability of the other accomplices.
The plot resurfaced a month later, with Mohite rallying the required manpower for the operation. Detailed recce was conducted to fine-tune their plan, which tragically culminated in the daylight robbery on the unsuspecting businessman.
As Ravibhai recuperates from his injuries, the city prays for his speedy recovery while lauding the police force for their relentless pursuit of justice. Meanwhile, the crime branch continues with their investigation, vowing to bring every individual involved to book and unravel the full extent of this criminal enterprise.
