Kolkata: Tracing a high-end blue sports bike with a tampered registration number plate, used in the Rs 11.9 lakh heist in front of a city mall, was key to tracking those involved in the robbery, cops said on Sunday. One of the accused, Shamim Islam (21), who drove the bike during the loot, was arrested from Sashan in Rajarhat on Friday night. During interrogation he revealed the name and location of the two other accomplices.
Five days after the loot from a cash collection agent and his armed guard outside a mall in Beckbagan, the southeast division police on Saturday arrested three persons. The main accused, Vikas Kumar (39), was an employee of the cosmetics store from where the cash was collected before it got looted. The second accused, Shah Alam (26), was also an employee of the same shop chain, but presently posted at its Salt Lake branch. The third accused, Shamim Islam (21), is a friend of Alam.
Police said that to mislead the investigators, Shamim tampered with his number plate. During the probe, CCTV footage was reviewed, and it was observed that the bike went towards Rajarhat via Park Circus and the EM Bypass. "However, there was no number plate in the front portion of the bike, and the rear number was distorted. The images of the two accused were also unclear. Since the culprits headed towards Rajarhat, we tried to identify who used that model of motorcycle in that area. Barasat RTO also assited us in the matter," said the officer.
Cops also reached out to multiple riders' groups, one of whom also hinted towards Alam and said he bought a similar bike four years ago.
After the robbery, the accused headed towards the Topsia PS. Alam got off the bike, changed his shirt and the bag filled with money, and boarded a bus. Meanwhile, Shamim, sped towards New Town. Alam also reached New Town, where they met and returned home with the money.