Eight arrested for planned Highway robbery in Palakkad; Number plates, iron rods seized

Palakkad: An eight-member gang that had allegedly planned a large-scale robbery targeting the national highway was arrested by the Palakkad Town South Police on Thursday. The gang had arrived in two cars. Four of the suspects were arrested near the Palakkad Medical College, and within 15 minutes, the remaining four were nabbed from Erattayal.

Those arrested have been identified as Ranjith (31) of Muthukulam, Alappuzha; Anshad (36) of Banglaparambu, Alappuzha; Dikshith (23) of Kottekkad, Palakkad; Aneesh Kumar (32) of Mannur, Palakkad; Mahin (40) of Kaloor, Ernakulam; Akhil Babu (32) of Elamakkara, Ernakulam; Sanjay (25) of Kunnathunad, Ernakulam; and Biju (42) of Tripunithura, Ernakulam.

The highway police officers noticed a car parked suspiciously on the roadside during a vehicle inspection near the Medical College at around 3 am on Thursday. Finding the behaviour of the occupants suspicious, the police conducted a detailed search of the vehicle. Multiple number plates, removed and kept inside the car, were recovered. Police also found face masks, gloves, large spanners, a car jack, and iron rods.

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Mahin, Sanjay, Biju and Akhil, who were in the car, were taken into custody and questioned. They reportedly told the police that they had planned to carry out a robbery in the early hours of the morning. On examining the call records and messages on their mobile phones, the police realised that more members were involved in the robbery plan. Subsequently, during further checks on the highway, another car carrying similar equipment and four more suspects was intercepted and seized.

All the accused were produced before the court and remanded to judicial custody.