Six held in Muthoot dacoity case

TIRUPUR/CHENNAI: Six persons of the nine-member gang of dacoits who recently struck at a branch of Muthoot Mini Financiers Pvt Ltd here, were arrested on Tuesday.The stolen loot of 1,381 sovereigns of gold and `45,000 was also recovered from the gang.West Zone Inspector General of Police K Vannia Perumal told journalists here, “Soon after the robbery on September 24, 11 specials teams comprising 56 police officials were formed to crack the case.”It was a mobile phone -- used by the gang during the heist-- that helped police trace them.“The robbers had also stolen a mobile phone from a staff of the branch. After using it for a few hours, they had thrown it near a well in Erode. The mobile phone was found by a local resident and he was using it,” the IG said.This phone, which was later traced and recovered, provided more information on the gang.“On Monday evening, when a special team led by Tirupur DSP Rajaram were conducting a vehicle check on the Erode-Karur Road, they apprehended a duo on a bike, on suspicion.” Perumal said.The duo was identified as Shekh Abdulla and Sekar alias Gunasekaran.Grilled, the duo confessed their involvement in the heist along with friends Karthik and Venkateshan, Sumangali Pandiyan G Kumar, Manikandan, Kali alias Kaliappan, and Manivannan.Based on the information four others of the gang, with except of Venkatesan, Kali and Manivannan, were held.  ADGP (Law and Order) S George appreciated all those involved as they solved the case in a week.