Police nab bike robber in 60 minutes on Delhi outskirts

The accused, identified as Chhotu alias Sonu (24), had disguised himself as a wounded man and stood along GT Road. When the victim passed by, Chhotu signalled for a hitch-hike. The accused, along with an associate, then beat up the victim and fled with his bike.

Sixty minutes is all it took Gautam Buddh Nagar police to arrest a man and impound the motorcycle he robbed on a highway near the Air Force camp in Badalpur on the outskirts of Delhi on Thursday.

Seeing police, the accused down a muddy road where the bike got stuck. He was then arrested. (Reuters/Picture for representation)

At 12.01 pm, officials at Badalpur police station got a call from UP 100 service, alerting them about the robbery on GT Road, police said. “We were informed that a man has been robbed of his motorcycle and injured by two men,” Badalpur station house officer Vijay Kumar said.

The accused, identified as Chhotu alias Sonu (24), had disguised himself as a wounded man and stood along the road. When the victim, a resident of Brij Vihar, passed by, Chhotu signalled for a hitch-hike.

“Out of compassion, the victim agreed to give him a lift. But no sooner did he stop, Chhotu started hitting him and soon his accomplice emerged from the bushes nearby. The two then overpowered the victim,” the SHO said.

“We immediately informed our teams on patrol duty and those posted on GT Road,” Kumar said.

Meanwhile Chhotu, who had reached some distance on GT Road riding the motorcycle, spotted a police picket ahead of him.

“He returned on the same route from where he had started. By that time, a police response vehicle (PRV) of UP 100 team, too, had reached the spot. In a fix, he got down on a kachcha rasta where the motorcycle got stuck. The PRV followed him and nabbed him,” Kumar said.

“It took police less than an hour to arrest him since the time the matter was reported,” he added.

Police said Chhotu has been booked under Indian Penal Code (IPC) section 392 for robbery and related offences. He was being produced in a court and the motorcycle would be returned to the victim post legal proceedings, police said.

Upon probe, it has been found that Chhotu already had cases registered against him under IPC, Arms Act and UP Goonda Act, they said.