Rewa robbery: Mastermind held, antiques recovered

The police on Tuesday claimed to have arrested the mastermind of the gang that had committed the daredevil robbery at the royal museum in Rewa last month and had taken away antiques and jewellery.

The main accused Kunwar Pal Banjara, 28, a resident of Kannauj (UP), has been arrested. Police said Banjara, who was a sandalwood thief, has been brought from Kannauj, and antiques have been recovered.

The famous pen pistol gifted by the then king of Belgium to former rulers of Rewa princely state has also been recovered. Apart from this, another antique pistol has been recovered. Banjara told police that he had melted the silver canopy and sold it by weight.

Incidentally, when police reached Kannauj, they found that he was already in local policemen’s custody in a case of Arms Act. Subsequently, police sought his remand, and brought him here.

The incident had occurred on October 18. Robbers had targeted the museum in Rewa fort after killing the guard Kamla Prasad, and had escaped withvaluables.

Police said Banjara was the mastermind and he has three other local gang members. Now the hunt is on for them. Police said that he came to Rewa fort looking for Sandalwood trees.

It was during such a visit, that local criminals told him about the jewellery in the museum. He then planned to commit robbery. The police are interrogating him so as to recover the remaining valuables. (With inputs from Rakesh Yengal, Rewa)