Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 21 Jan: In a major breakthrough under the guidance of SSP, Dehradun, Ajai Singh, the district police have successfully solved a sensational robbery case involving an elderly woman in the Rajpur area. The police investigation revealed that the prime conspirator in the robbery was a former driver of the victim’s family. The Doon Police arrested three accused involved in the incident and recovered the entire stolen property, including jewellery and cash worth nearly Rs 9.5 lakhs, along with the vehicle used in the crime.
It may be recalled that the robbery had taken place in the early hours of 18 January when Rajpur Police Station received information through the control room that an elderly woman had been robbed after being threatened inside her residence near Sankiya Hospital on Rajpur Road. Acting promptly, the station in-charge along with police personnel rushed to the spot, while senior police officers also inspected the scene and gathered details. The victim informed the police that she lived in the house with her son, who was on a tour to Delhi to drop off his family. On the night of 17 January, two unidentified persons entered her room, threatened her and decamped with the jewellery and cash kept in the almirah before fleeing with her mobile phone.
Based on a complaint lodged by the woman’s son, Bhuvan Gandhi, a case was registered against unknown persons under relevant sections at Rajpur Police Station. Considering the sensitivity of the case, the SSP Dehradun constituted multiple police teams to identify and arrest the culprits. The teams analysed footage from CCTV cameras installed in the surrounding areas, activated local intelligence sources and intensified surveillance. Acting on a tip-off, the police intercepted and arrested three accused from near Yograj Farm Bandh on the Maldevta Road between Kirsali Chowk and Maldevta during checking operations on 21 January.
The arrested accused were identified as Shafaat Ali, Nadeem alias Guddu, and Ishtiaq alias Kulle. From their possession, the police recovered the entire stolen property, including jewellery valued at approximately Rs 8 lakhs, cash amounting to over Rs 1.54 lakhs, the victim’s iPhone and the Wagon R car used in the commission of the crime. During the interrogation, the prime accused Shafaat Ali disclosed that he had earlier worked as a driver at the complainant’s house but was removed from service during the Covid period. However, the elderly woman occasionally called him when she needed to visit the gurdwara, which allowed him to remain familiar with the household.
Shafaat Ali revealed that, on 16 January, he contacted the household servant to enquire whether the elderly woman would be going to the gurdwara, during which he learnt that she was alone at home as the son and other family members were out of town. Armed with this information, he planned the robbery with his brother-in-law Nadeem and relative Ishtiaq. On the night of 17 January, the three reached near the house in a Wagon R car driven by Nadeem, who initially dropped the other two near the rear side of the house and parked the vehicle at a secluded spot near a Sai temple to avoid suspicion before rejoining them on foot.
The accused entered the premises by climbing the rear boundary wall, taking advantage of darkness and their prior knowledge that no CCTV cameras were installed at the residence. While scouting the house, they noticed a window left open for ventilation, through which they gained entry. The accomplices threatened the elderly woman and looted jewellery and cash before fleeing. After the incident, the accused returned to their rented accommodations and were planning to escape to their native places when they were apprehended by the police.
The arrested accused include Shafaat Ali, son of Lal Mohammad, a resident of Barabanki district in Uttar Pradesh and presently living as a tenant in the Rajpur area of Dehradun, Nadeem alias Guddu, son of Ashiq Ali, a resident of Amethi district in Uttar Pradesh, and Ishtiaq alias Kulle, son of Munir, also a native of Amethi and currently residing as a tenant on Canal Road under Rajpur police station limits.
The successful operation was carried out by teams from Rajpur Police Station and the Special Operations Group, led by the respective officers and supported by field staff. Senior police officers have appreciated the swift investigation and recovery, stating that the case highlights the importance of prompt intelligence gathering and coordinated policing in cracking serious crimes.
