Title - Railway pole robber caught red-handed

MUMBAI: A 20-year-old man who used to climb atop poles and strike at commuters travelling on railway footboards to rob them was arrested by Kurla Government Railway Police (GRP).The accused, Mohan Shetty, snatched the cellphone of a commuter, Suresh Vishwakarma, on Thursday morning. The same evening, he was caught red-handed while attempting to snatch the cellphone of another commuter, Rajesh V, at Ghatkopar"Mohan had been operating in the Vidyavihar-Ghatkopar stretch. We suspect that he is involved in several cases. He is not co-operating in the probe," said an official. Mohan has been booked under provisions of the Railway Act.His brother, Shiva Shetty, who was also arrested in the past for robbing commuters travelling on footboards, is at present in police custody.The GRP has been cracking down on pole robbers after a housewife, Daksha Gugal, lost her life after being struck by a pole robber between Sion and Kurla stations last year.In another case, a 22-year-old man was arrested for mugging a student who was walking on the tracks at Ghatkopar. On Friday evening, Keshav Pratap Singh (18), a Kalyan resident, was returning home when the incident took place. The accused, Wasim Shaikh, grabbed Singh by his collar and assaulted him near a foot overbridge. Singh had taken a shortcut to the station. The accused made off with Singh's cash and cellphone.

"After Singh lodged a complaint, we laid a trap on the stretch. Shaikh was found consuming drugs with three others. The stolen valuables were recovered," an official said.Shaikh is a Ghatkopar resident.

the complainant, was new to the city and was looking for a part-time job along with his studies. He is staying at Kalyan temporarily. On Friday, Singh and his brother got calls for job interviews at Pant Nagar in Ghatkopar. As Singh's interview got over early, he decided to proceed home. It was evening when he decided to take a short cut to the station by walking on the tracks. He was near the foot overbridge when the accused, Wasim Shaikh, grabbed his collar. Singh tried to resist but Shaikh slapped him and kicked him on his private parts. While Singh winced in pain, Shaikh made off his cash and cellphone.

for an offence committed in their jurisdiction. The GRP has been cracking down seriously on pole robbers after a housewife, Daksha Gugal, lost her life after being struck by a pole robber between Sion and Kurla stations last year.

The Kurla Government Railway Police (GRP) arrested a 20-year-old man who used to climb atop railway poles and strike at commuters travelling on footboards of locals, to rob their belongings. Mohan Shetty, the accused, had robbed a cellphone from a commuter, Suresh Vishwakarma, in this manner on Thursday morning. The same evening, he was attempting to rob another commuter, Rajesh V, of his phone, when the GRP caught him red-handed at Ghatkopar.

"Mohan has been operating in the Vidyavihar to Ghatkopar stretch. We suspect he has several past cases but he hasn't been co-operating in the probe," said an official. Mohan has been booked under provisions of the Railway Act. His brother, Shiva Shetty, had also been arrested by the Kurla GRP in the past for robbing commuters travelling on footboards of locals. Shiva is presently in the custody of the Kanjurmarg police for an offence committed in their jurisdiction. The GRP has been cracking down seriously on pole robbers after a housewife, Daksha Gugal, lost her life after being struck by a pole robber between Sion and Kurla stations last year.

In a separate case, the Kurla GRP arrested a 22-year-old man for mugging a student walking on the tracks at Ghatkopar. Keshav Pratap Singh, 18, the complainant, was new to the city and was looking for a part-time job along with his studies. He is staying at Kalyan temporarily. On Friday, Singh and his brother got calls for job interviews at Pant Nagar in Ghatkopar. As Singh's interview got over early, he decided to proceed home. It was evening when he decided to take a short cut to the station by walking on the tracks. He was near the foot overbridge when the accused, Wasim Shaikh, grabbed his collar. Singh tried to resist but Shaikh slapped him and kicked him on his private parts. While Singh winced in pain, Shaikh made off his cash and cellphone.

"After Singh lodged a complaint with us, our team laid a trap on the stretch where he had been mugged. Shaikh was found consuming drugs with three others. He was nabbed and the stolen valuables were recovered," an official said. Shaikh is a Ghatlopar resident.