Mumbai:
The two minors arrested for blitzing wedding receptions and walking off with valuables have been left high and dry by their grown-up handlers. Investigations conducted by Wagle Estate police reveal that the 6-year-old boy and his 15-year-old subordinate arrested for stealing cash and jewels from weddings have been trained by his parents. Curiously, the mom-dad duo is currently absconding, with all the stolen booty.
MiD DAY had reported the child's arrest ('Six-year-old boy is a serial wedding crasher and robber', January 23) from Bhandup. Senior police inspector Sunil More from Wagle Estate police station said, "Earlier, we thought that a gang was involved in training the tot. But our investigations have revealed that it was actually his parents. They had instructed the child to spot the parents of the bride and the groom and sift through their bags assuming they would be the ones carrying costly valuables."
According to police officials, the six-year-old and his 15-year-old accomplice would be driven by the parents and dropped at the wedding venue. Depending on the location, the two boys were ordered to reach a pre-determined spot after fleeing the crime scene. Investigations also revealed that the 15-year-old hails from the same village as his partner in crime, and the two are distantly related.
Hunt for handlers"On the day they were arrested, parents of the accused were waiting at Bhandup railway station. For heists where the railway station was far from their target, they would wait for the kids at nearby crowded locations," said an officer. Though police initially suspected that the children's answers were deceptive, it has now emerged that all they wanted to do was find their parents with the help of the police.
He added, "None of the stolen property has been recovered as the two accused handed over the booty to their parents." A police team consisting of six officials will be sent to the accused's village Narsingard in Rajgarh district, Madhya Pradesh to search for the parents. Further investigations revealed that in the past the two accused have stolen bags loaded with valuables from three marriage ceremonies in Thane. The case was later transferred to Wagle Estate police station, and after investigations the accused duo was sent to a children's remand home.
"We cannot keep minors in our custody. After investigation, we sent them to the children's home in Bhiwandi. A female constable was appointed to look after them," said the officer. The two accused have been booked under Section 380 (theft in a dwelling house) of the Indian Penal code.