Kochi: The mastermind beh-ind the two armed robberies that took place in Kochi over three months ago was arrested from his hiding place in Bangladesh by the Bangladesh Rifles personnel on Monday based on a tip-off given by the Kerala police.
The special investigation team will seek custody of Akram Khan through the Ministry of External Affairs.
“The Union government had signed an extradition treaty with Bangladesh in January 2016 under which wanted criminals can be handed over. We’ll submit an application to the ministry for getting the custody of Khan. We have already informed cops there that he is wanted by us in connection with the robberies,”
Mr P.S. Shiju, investigation officer, told this newspaper.
Khan is currently in the custody of Moralganj police there. The Bangladesh police too were on the lookout for him in connection with the murder of two persons during robbery attempts there. It will be tough to get his custody soon as the trial in the cases is on there, the officer said.
Khan was arrested by the Bangladesh police three years ago in connection with the robbery and murder cases. However, when he got out on bail, he escaped to India. He was staying in Kochi, Bengaluru and Chennai where he committed several robberies with the help of his Delhi-based gang.
“His custody is vital as seven other accused in the twin robbery cases are still on the run. We’d given the tip-off regarding his hiding place at an island in Bangladesh based on the details obtained during interrogation of three accused arrested — Arshad, 20, Roni Sheikh, 24, and Shehsad, 30, — from Delhi early last month,” the officer said.
The eleven-member gang under Akram Khan had first struck at the house of an elderly couple at Pullepaddy cross road in Kochi in the wee hours of December 15. The next day, they struck at another house at Eroor near Trippunithura. In both cases, the gang attacked the inmates with sharp weapons and looted gold and money.
