Delhi: Screenshot taken during video call leads to teenage robbers' arrest
New Delhi, Jul 21 (PTI): A screenshot taken during a video call led to the identification and eventually the arrest of two teenagers who allegedly robbed people to fund their drug addiction and hotel stays, police said on Monday.
The two were identified as Harsh and Ashish alias Suchha, both 19, and residents of Vikas Nagar in southwest Delhi.
"With their arrest, we have solved at least seven cases of robbery and vehicle theft," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer) Sachin Sharma said in a statement. The officer said five stolen motorcycles and one autorickshaw were recovered from their possession, as was a country-made pistol, a knife, and a live cartridge.
"The accused were actively involved in a spree of criminal activities, especially vehicle theft and armed robbery using the stolen vehicles. They used to stay at hotels to feel luxury using the looted money. Both are drug addicts," said the DCP.
On July 17, a call was received at Ranhola Police Station reporting a robbery near Government School in Gurdyal Vihar, he said.
The complainant alleged that two men robbed him of his mobile phone and Rs 20,000 at knife-point.
Police registered an FIR, and a special team was formed to investigate the case. "Team scanned CCTV footage from the vicinity and received a breakthrough when the complainant's sister video-called the stolen number, which was answered by one of the accused. She managed to capture screenshots of the suspects during the video call, providing a vital visual lead," Sharma said.
On Sunday, a police team spotted two men on a numberless motorcycle near the Nala Road behind the Shudhanshu Ashram.
"When signalled to stop, they tried to flee but were chased and overpowered by the team members," the officer said.
When they were searched, one of them, Harsh, was found carrying a knife, while the other, Ashish, had a country-made pistol with a live cartridge.
"The motorcycle they were riding was confirmed stolen, with the engine and chassis number matching an entry in an FIR registered on March 14 at Ranhola Police Station," said the DCP.
During interrogation, the two confessed to stealing vehicles from across southwest Delhi and use them for snatchings and robberies.
The motorcycles and autorickshaw recovered at their instance were linked to cases registered across Ranhola, Vikas Puri, Paschim Vihar, and Najafgarh police stations.
"The recovered vehicles show a wide operational area of these thieves. They targeted not just local zones but also committed thefts in neighbouring police districts," he said.
According to police, Harsh and Ashish followed a pattern – first, they would steal two-wheelers, mainly motorcycles, from parking lots or poorly guarded residential areas, and then would use them for a quick getaway after a robbery.
"They mostly targeted lone pedestrians at isolated spots. One would threaten the victim with a knife or country-made pistol while the other stood guard on the motorcycle," the officer said.
The two used stolen mobile phones for only brief communication and disposed them of quickly to avoid tracking. Local pedestrians carrying bags, mobile phones, or visibly holding cash, were their favourite targets.
The accused revealed that they would use the robbed money to buy drugs, and fund "short-term luxuries."
They would often check into hotels with the loot and spend nights taking drugs. "It was snatch, spend and stay. They robbed and then lived like rich for a night or two until they needed to steal again," Sharma said.
Harsh and Ashis, both, are school dropouts.
Harsh had earlier been involved in minor street crimes, while Ashish had reportedly been influenced by a group of criminals in the area.
Police said they are trying to identify their other associates, particularly two known by the initials G and S, who are believed to be part of their criminal activity.
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UDF leaders see local body poll trends as pointer to 2026 Assembly elections in Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Buoyed by the strong performance of the Congress-led UDF in the local body polls, KPCC president Sunny Joseph said on Saturday that the front's results indicated the people had rejected the LDF government.
According to early trends, the UDF was leading in more grama panchayats, block panchayats, municipalities and corporations than the LDF.
The local body polls were held in two phases in the state earlier this week.
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Speaking to reporters here, Joseph said the people of Kerala had extended their support to the UDF.
"We could expose the LDF government’s anti-people stance and the people understood it. The LDF’s fake propaganda was rejected by the people. The UDF is moving towards a historic victory," he said.
He said a united effort, proper preparations, good candidate selection and hard work had resulted in the Congress and the UDF’s victory in the elections.
Asked about the prospects in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, Joseph said the party was studying the matter and would comment later.
LDF convenor T P Ramakrishnan said the results would be closely examined.
According to him, the government had done everything possible for the people.
"Why such a verdict happened will be examined at the micro level. People’s opinion will be considered and further steps will be taken," he said.
He added that decisions would be taken after analysing the results. "If any corrective measures are required, we will initiate them and move forward," he said.
AICC leader K C Venugopal said the results showed that people had begun ousting those who, he alleged, were responsible for the loss of gold at Lord Ayyappa’s temple.
"This trend will continue in the Assembly elections as well. It is an indication that the people are ready to bring down the LDF government," he said.
Venugopal said the UDF had registered victories even in CPI(M) and LDF strongholds.
"I congratulate all UDF workers for their hard work. Congress workers and leaders worked unitedly," he said.
Referring to remarks made by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan against the Congress on polling day, Venugopal said the voters had responded through the verdict.
"I do not know whether the chief minister understands that the people are against him. Otherwise, he does not know the sentiment of the people. The state government cannot move an inch further," he said.
He said the results indicated a strong comeback for the UDF in Kerala.
Asked whether the Sabarimala gold loss issue had affected the LDF in the local polls, Venugopal said the CM and the CPI(M) state secretary did not take the issue seriously.
"We took a strong stand on the matter. The BJP played a foul game in it," he alleged.
On the BJP's role in the local body elections, Venugopal alleged that the party operated with the CPI(M) 's tacit support.
"The CPI(M) supported the central government on issues such as PM-SHRI, labour codes and corruption in national highway construction. The CPI(M) is facing ideological decline, and the state government’s policies are against the party’s own decisions," he said.
Meanwhile, LDF ally Kerala Congress (M) leader Jose K Mani said the party could not win all the wards it had expected in the elections.
He congratulated winners from all parties and said the party would closely examine the losses and identify shortcomings. "Later, we will take corrective measures," he added.
Senior Congress leader and MP Rajmohan Unnithan said the trends in the local body elections indicated that the UDF would return to power in the 2026 Assembly elections.
"We will win 111 seats as in 1977 and return to power in 2026. The anti-government sentiment of the people is reflected in the elections," he said.
Unnithan said the people were disturbed and unhappy with the present government.
"The trend indicates the end of the LDF government," he added.
CPI(M) MLA M M Mani said the people had shown ingratitude towards the LDF despite benefiting from welfare schemes.
"After receiving all welfare schemes and living comfortably, people voted against us due to some temporary sentiments. Is that not ingratitude," he asked.
Mani said no such welfare initiatives had taken place in Kerala earlier.
"People are receiving pensions and have enough to eat. Even after getting all this, they voted against us. This is what can be called ingratitude," he said.
Muslim League state president Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal said the results were beyond expectations.
"The outcome points towards the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram, indicating that a change of government is imminent. We are going to win the Assembly election," he said.
