Lucknow: Police have busted a gang that allegedly recruited juveniles on a monthly payment to rob unsuspecting passengers after luring them into an auto-rickshaw. Police arrested one adult accused and apprehended two minors.The gang targeted commuters by offering them rides in an auto-rickshaw or e-rickshaw before taking them to secluded locations, where they threatened their targets with death and robbed them of cash and mobile phones.The breakthrough came during a vehicle checking drive by Madiaon police near Mitauli Tiraha on Thursday. Acting on a tip-off that suspects involved in previous auto-rickshaw robberies were waiting near the IIM Road service lane in a blue auto-rickshaw to target commuters, police surrounded and intercepted the vehicle. The suspects attempted to flee but were apprehended.Police arrested Sumit Sharma (21), a resident of Hari Om Nagar, Madiaon, while two 15-year-old juveniles were taken into custody under the provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act.During interrogation, the accused disclosed the juveniles were assigned the task of identifying, overpowering and robbing passengers after taking them to isolated stretches. Police said the minors were allegedly paid a fixed amount for participating in each robbery, indicating that they were being used as hired accomplices in the criminal operation.The gang selected lone passengers, diverted them to deserted locations in the auto-rickshaw and robbed them of mobile phones and cash after issuing threats.Police recovered a smartphone looted from a victim and another smartphone suspected to be stolen, Rs 3,100 in cash, and the auto-rickshaw (UP32 RT 3647) used in the crime.
