Nagpur: The Sitabuldi police managed to nab a member of a gang of sandalwood thieves after a hot chase who also tried to attack cops with a saw blade, early on Wednesday morning in Civil Lines. However, the kingpin of the gang succeeded in escaping during the police action. A team of Sitabuldi police is likely to visit Jalna to arrest him. The involvement of the gang in Sandalwood thefts reported at Raj Bhavan and Civil Lines would be revealed only after his arrest.
The police seized two sandalwood logs worth Rs 21,000, wood cutting equipment, and a motorcycle used in the crime from the arrested gang member. The arrested accused has been identified as Asif Pathan (22, a resident of Katora Bazaar village, Bhokardan Tehsil, Jalna).
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According to police, Narasimha Krishna Ghatate (50), owns a medicinal plant nursery at Gokul Bungalow, Ghatate Layout in Civil Lines. On Tuesday afternoon, Pathan came to the nursery with his accomplice. One of them captured a picture of a sandalwood tree with a mobile phone. Mayur, an employee at the bungalow, questioned them. The two returned to the nursery in the night hours and started chopping the tree with a saw blade.
The residents of the bungalow noticed them and alerted the police. Sitabuldi Police rushed to the spot and noticed the accused on a two-wheeler. After seeing the police, the accused sped away from the spot. The police chased them and blocked them near Bole Petrol Pump. One of them threw a sharp-edged weapon at the police. However, the police managed to arrest Pathan. His accomplice escaped from the spot on the two-wheeler.
The police seized an axe, cutter and two pieces of sandalwood from their possession. The police produced Pathan in court and obtained his police custody till September 30.
Earlier, Sitabuldi police said that the team saw two youths riding a motorcycle in the Civil Lines area at around 4 am while they were on night patrolling. Initially cops did not suspect anything, but their suspicion was aroused when they spotted a saw blade in the pillion rider’s hand. After some time, the police team spotted them carrying two tree logs, riding on a Jalgaon passing two-wheeler. After a chase, the team intercepted the two-wheeler near Bole Petrol Pump square. Before the team could catch hold of the duo, one of them brandished the saw blade in the air to try and evade arrest. In the melee, one of them managed to escape in the dark, while the police caught hold of Pathan.
Under the guidance of Senior Police Inspector Atul Sabnis, the arrest was made by Assistant Police Inspector Sunil Sonwane, Head Constables Rameshwar Gite, Sandeep Bokhare, Prashant Bhoyer, Raman Khare and Deepak Wahane and others.
