Jaipur: Police here Sunday arrested three members of an alleged highway robbery gang accused of abducting two men returning from a Railway recruitment examination, robbing one of them and demanding a Rs 15 lakh ransom. The alleged kingpin escaped with the car used in the crime and remains absconding.DCP (South) Rajarshi Raj Varma identified the arrested accused as Suresh Choudhary (22) of Muhana, Deepak Balai alias Deepu (23) of Sanganer and Bharat alias Bhartu (22) of Muhana. He said the alleged gang leader, Kushal Sansi, is absconding. Police suspect the gang targeted motorists and commuters travelling on highways.According to police, complainant Kamlesh Meena and his friend Mithalal Meena were returning home on a motorcycle after Mithalal appeared for the Railway Group D examination in Jaipur on Aug 5. Between 4pm and 5pm, occupants of a car allegedly intercepted them on Ring Road near Diggi Road, forced both men into the vehicle and drove away.Police said the accused released Mithalal about 5-7km away but took Kamlesh to a secluded forested area, where they allegedly tied his hands and legs, assaulted him and threatened to kill him. They allegedly robbed him of his mobile phone, three silver rings and a silver chain before demanding Rs 15 lakh.When Kamlesh told the accused he could not arrange the money, they allegedly reduced the demand to Rs 50,000 and forced him to call his brother to bring the cash. Police said the victim managed to escape after the accused fled the spot.Based on the complaint, Muhana police registered a case under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and launched an investigation. Investigators examined footage from more than 500 CCTV cameras, analysed technical evidence and developed intelligence through informers before identifying the suspects.Police said Kushal Sansi escaped with the Hyundai i20 allegedly used in the crime. Raids are underway to trace him and recover the vehicle. Investigators are also probing the gang’s possible involvement in other highway robberies.
