Title - Elderly couple helps police nab 2 conmen

NEW DELHI: An elderly couple showed exemplary courage and presence of mind when knowingly took lift from an autowallah who had looted them before and managed to get his two associates arrested. The prime accused is still at large. The arrested accomplices, Chand and Kamran, would stealbags and belongings of passengers while boarding the autorickshaw, police said."Lakhbir Singh (75) and his 73-year-old wife (who did not wish to be named) had their luggage stolen on April 7 this year. Singh, along with his wife, had come to Subzi Mandi Railway Station and they had hired an auto, which already had two passengers inside. While Singh's wife sat at the back with others, Singh sat with the auto driver in front. After travelling some distance, the driver let in one more passenger. On reaching Shastri Nagar, the driver told everyone to get down after his auto developed a snag. Singh, along with his wife, boarded a bus and reached home. It was then that they realized that Rs 74,500 cash was missing from their briefcase. They, however, did not inform police,'' said DCP (north) Sindhu Pillai.The elderly couple again came to Subzi Mandi Railway Station on November 18 and hired the same autorickshaw till their residence, Pillai added. "Two passengers were already seated in the auto from before and Singh's wife had to share a seat with them and Singh sat with the driver. After travelling a short distance, the driver took in one more passenger and the same drill got repeated."However, this time the couple became cautious and Singh kept the briefcase secure with him. On reaching the red light, the driver complained of a snag and all the three boys, except the driver, got down. But this time, the couple coaxed the driver to drop him to Jail Road. When the auto rickshaw reached near junk market in Mayapuri, the drive refused to go further. Singh then called police but in the meantime the driver fled, leaving the auto behind. The two accused were nabbed after police got a tip-off.