6 Delhi men rob shopkeeper of Rs 50,000. They wanted to see snowfall in hills but had no money

'They planned to experience snowfall at a hill station. But as they were short on funds, they decided to commit robberies,' DCP (Dwarka) Ankit Singh said. (Representational image: Canva)

Six men recently released from jail carried out a series of robberies in Delhi's Dwarka region because they wanted to visit the hills to watch snowfall but did not have money for the trip. The gang robbed Rs 50,000 from a shopkeeper at gunpoint on November 12 and have recently been arrested.

All the accused were residents of Bindapur's JJ Colony. "Mukesh, a grocery shop owner, was returning home on his scooter when he was intercepted near the DDA flats in Bindapur. Three individuals on a motorcycle stopped him and robbed Rs 50,000 at gunpoint," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Dwarka) Ankit Singh told news agency PTI.

The police had formed multiple teams to identify and nab the gang. They analysed footage from over 500 CCTV cameras to trace the gang's movements. Acting on a tip-off, the police laid a trap and arrested the three accused -- Mohammad Sazid, 23, Mohammad Shoeb, 19, and Mohammad Rashid, 22, -- on November 17, said the DCP. During interrogation, they confessed to the crime and disclosed the involvement of three more accomplices, leading to the arrest of Mohammad Ayan, 19, Mohammad Aftab, 22, and Mohammad Altab, 24, said the police officer.

"All the accused are history sheeters and had been struggling financially. Recently released from jail after serving sentences for various crimes, they planned to experience snowfall at a hill station. But as they were short on funds, they decided to commit robberies," said the DCP.

They targeted Mukesh based on insider information. The gang meticulously planned the heist, conducted reconnaissance, and used a motorcycle and a country-made pistol to execute the crime. The police has recovered Rs 35,200 of the robbed cash, a motorcycle, and a country-made pistol. According to them, the accused planned to rob other shopkeepers in the area before they were caught.

(With inputs from PTI)