Gang steals Rs10,000 from passenger in moving bus

Trichy: A group of men allegedly stole 10,000 from a 61-year-old man while he was travelling in a private city bus on Wednesday. Two of them have been arrested.According to police, K Balasubramanian from Srinivasapuram in Thanjavur, was carrying the cash to pay his son's final-year engineering college fees in Trichy. The incident occurred around 1pm when Balasubramanian boarded a private bus at Palpannai heading towards Chathiram bus stand.Police said that a gang of men inside the bus targeted him after noticing the cash in his pocket. As the bus passed through Gandhi Market, they allegedly pushed him into other passengers to create a distraction. One of the accused then picked his pocket.Balasubramanian realised the money was missing shortly after and spotted one of the men holding it. He caught hold of the person and raised an alarm. The others managed to escape when the bus slowed near Marakkadai. Fort Station police registered a case under Section 307 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and identified the apprehended youth as K Gopinath, 23, from Palakkarai. During interrogation, Gopinath revealed the main suspect as R Malik Batcha, 28, a history-sheeter and known pickpocket from Thennur.Batcha was later arrested, and police recovered 5,000 from the accused. Both were produced before a magistrate and remanded in judicial custody. Further investigation is underway to trace the remaining amount and three other members of the gang.