Five highway robbers arrested in Delhi

New Delhi, Feb 4 (PTI) Five youths were arrested insouth-east Delhi for their alleged involvement in a series ofhighway robberies, police said today.

The arrested have been identified as Shakeel (22),Umardeen (20), Yunus (21) -- all residents of Mewat inHaryana; Rakesh (34) from Jhunjhnu in Rajasthan and Munna Alam(22) from Kishanganj in Bihar.

They were arrested from near Sarita Vihar Metro Stationyesterday on a tip-off, DCP (Special Cell) Arun Kampani said.

The gang was allegedly involved in many cases of robberyand attempt to murder in Narnaul, Dharuhera, Mahender Garh andGurgaon (Haryana), Bhiwasi and Alwar (Rajasthan) and Sahibabad(UP).

Two country-made pistols, a car, Rs 60,000 cash andsedative tablets in large quantity were recovered from theirpossession.

"They were involved in highway robberies since 2006...

They used to target truck drivers who stop at roadsideeateries, where one of the gang members usually used to takeup the job of waiter and served food mixed with sedatives.

"When the driver commences his journey, they request themto take their friend for a short distance. The truck driversusually used to oblige and when the sleeping pills startedshowing its effect on the drivers, the gang members used tooverpower them," Kampani said.

Other members who followed the trucks used to interceptthe vehicle later and throw the driver and conductor from therunning trucks or else kill them and flee with the vehiclesladen with goods, he said.

The stolen articles were sold at throwaway prices, whilethe robbed truck is taken to Khalid, a resident of Mathura whois into transport business.