Robber gang leader held, jewels seized

Police arrested Sayed Irfan (35), a resident of SM Subedar Street, Otteri, following a complaint from M Sathyaraj (30), a resident of Raja Shanmugham Nagar Main Road at Tiruvotriyur after he was waylaid and robbed by the accused on Friday.  

Police said the accused Irfan threatened Sathyaraj at knifepoint near Sathyamurthi Nagar bus stand and took away his wrist watch, mobile phone and Rs.1000 in cash. 

Police later launched a hunt for the accused and identified him as Sayed Irfan, who leads a gang that target lonely pedestrians and motorists and robbed them at knifepoint. 

Police said Irfan was involved in as many as nine cases of robbery in areas like Manali, Sathankadu and Ennore in the city. Police later recovered 41 sovereigns of gold jewellery which Irfan and gang had looted from various people across the city over a period of time.

The arrested accused was later produced before the magistrate court and was remanded in judicial custody. With his arrest, the city police have launched a hunt for the absconding associates of the accused.