11 held with 63 mobile phones for alleged thefts during Pune Ganesh immersion procession

Shivajinagar police recovered 63 mobile phones of different brands, besides a car, two knives, a cutter and chilli powder. The total value of the seized property is estimated at ₹30.57 lakh

Police arrested 11 people for allegedly stealing mobile phones from devotees by taking advantage of the crowds during Pune’s Ganesh immersion procession, police said on Saturday.

According to police, the thefts occurred between midnight on September 25 and 6.30 am on September 26, when large crowds had gathered in central Pune to watch the immersion procession. (REPRESENTATIVE PHOTO)

Shivajinagar police recovered 63 mobile phones of different brands, besides a car, two knives, a cutter and chilli powder. The total value of the seized property is estimated at ₹30.57 lakh.

According to police, the thefts occurred between midnight on September 25 and 6.30 am on September 26, when large crowds had gathered in central Pune to watch the immersion procession. Heavy crowds were reported along Jangli Maharaj Road, Fergusson College Road, Jhansi Rani Chowk, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) premises and Laxmi Road.

Police received information that a group of seven to eight people carrying weapons had gathered near the Mutha riverbed and were allegedly preparing to target devotees.

Acting on the information, a police team apprehended the suspects around 5.15 am on Saturday. During their interrogation and a subsequent search, police recovered 63 mobile phones and other articles from their possession.