Times News NetworkKanpur: Police arrested five people, including the driver of a goat trader, for allegedly robbing Rs 4.31 lakh from him in Shivrajpur, Kanpur. Seven other accused remain absconding and raids are under way to arrest them.According to police, trader Abid Ahmad, resident of Chaubepur qasba, around 5 am on September 17 was travelling with other traders to Hardoi livestock market when a black XUV overtook and stopped their car near Kakupur on Kanpur-Aligarh highway. The assailants allegedly smashed the car’s windows with sticks, held Ahmad at gunpoint and fled with a bag containing Rs 4,31,000.Police identified the arrested accused as Shivam Kumar alias Model (20), Mayank Saini alias Rishi (20), Ayush Saini (19), Anuj Yadav (20) and Ahmad’s driver, Asif Idrisi (24). All are residents of areas under Bithoor and Chaubepur police stations.DCP (West) SM Qasim Abidi said Asif had told Sahil, a resident of his locality, that Ahmad carried around Rs 5-Rs 10 lakh whenever he visited the market. Asif allegedly planned the robbery with Sahil and Saksham and kept Rs 2 lakh as his share.Police said 12 people, working in separate teams, were involved. Asif allegedly shared information and provided continuous location updates from the time Ahmad had left home until the vehicle was intercepted at a deserted spot.Investigators traced a black vehicle marked “Press” through CCTV footage. Suspicion later fell on Asif, whose call records showed that he had remained in contact with several people before and after the robbery. The records led police to his associates.Police recovered Rs 46,000 from Mayank, Rs 40,000 from Ayush, Rs 30,000 from Anuj and Rs 3,500 from Shivam. The money had been divided among the accused after the robbery, the DCP said.Anuj is a second-year BA student, Mayank a second-year BBA student and Ayush and Shivam are first-year BA students. Police found no criminal history against them, while one case was registered against absconding accused Sahil. The accused said that they committed the robbery because of addiction and to buy expensive clothes and shoes. All five were produced in court and sent to jail.
