Afzalgunj police have apprehended three men involved in stealing valuables from passengers inside an auto rickshaw. The arrested individuals are Syed Ghayaz Hashmi, an auto driver; Syed Abdul Hassan (aka Kala Jamun), a paintworker; and Md Waseem, also an auto driver. The vehicle used in the crime was seized, while the primary suspect, Zubair Lala, remains absconding.
The arrests followed a complaint from P Dayanand, a retired employee. According to him, while waiting at the 2J bus stop in Afzalgunj, he boarded an auto rickshaw where three men were already seated. The men disturbed him under the guise of asking him to sit properly. Near the Dental College, the driver stopped, claiming a mechanical problem. After alighting, Dayanand discovered Rs 1,500 had been stolen from his pocket.
Following the complaint, Afzalgunj police launched an investigation. CCTV footage and local inquiries led to the capture of the three suspects. G Chandra Mohan, DCP of Golconda Zone, detailed the gang’s modus operandi: one person drives while three sit behind, targeting single, middle-aged, or elderly passengers. The gang distracts victims inside the rickshaw and then abandons them on the road using a vehicle breakdown as an excuse.
Police are continuing their search for Zubair Lala and investigating further to recover additional stolen items.
