Kochi: Police on Saturday busted a racket and arrested five, including a college student, who used to attack late night walkers in the city streets. Police identified them as Edakochi native Vinu (19), Palluruthy resident Nahas (20), Cherthala natives Agneshwar (19) and Kumar (19) and Thoppumpady native Jenson (20).
Police said they used to target mainly migrant labourers and those befriending transgenders. “They first target those who walk alone or coming out of hotels in city areas like Valanjambalam, South and Marine Drive. They then approach the victims in their bikes and hit them from behind before looting their valuables,” assistant police commissioner K. V. Vijayan said.
They used to stay in hostels of major colleges and indulge in robberies late into the night. “The racket used to pick migrant labourers and those out on immoral activities in the belief that they won’t lodge complaints with the police,” the officer said.
Finally, the cops started probing about the racket when a migrant labourer, one of their victims, came forward and lodged a complaint. Soon the five fell into the police net as many more cases of roadside robberies were revealed. They include attack and robbing Uttarakhand native Mukesh on Provident Fund Road on May 31 of his mobile phone worth Rs 13, 500, Rs 530 in cash and an ATM card.
Similarly, three persons were assaulted and looted of their mobiles phones and Rs 70,00 in cash at Kombara Junction on May 29. They were also behind a looting case on May 18 when a migrant labourer, working as a hotel employee, was targeted on Chittoor Road. “Further interrogation is in progress, and we’re probing whether there are more persons included in the racket,” the officer said.
