Valsad, Sep 5 (IANS) Valsad Police have arrested a 27-year-old man who was allegedly wanted in an armed robbery case in Gujarat and a murder case in Karnataka, with investigators finding that he was allegedly linked to the killing of former gram panchayat president and businessman David D’Souza in Udupi.
The accused, identified as Vipin alias Gaurav Pathak, was arrested by the Valsad District Local Crime Branch (LCB) from Umargam on the basis of confidential information, the police said on Friday.
According to the LCB, Vipin was wanted in a robbery registered at Umargam Marine Police Station under Sections 309(4), 309(6), 311 and 127(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and Section 25(1-B)(A) of the Arms Act.
The incident took place on January 30 at Fansa in Umargam, where three unidentified men allegedly entered a house at night, threatened the occupants with a firearm-like weapon and fled after robbing gold ornaments, mobile phones and cash worth Rs 1.52 lakh.
Police said technical analysis, human intelligence and information gathered from previously arrested suspects helped trace Vipin.
During questioning, he allegedly disclosed that around seven months earlier he had travelled by car to Bhilad with wanted accused Anuj Patel, Dinesh Sonkar and Sanjay Jain, along with two persons known to Anuj.
They allegedly met Vivek alias Jigu Ahir and Animeshkumar alias Lalu Patel at Bhilad before carrying out the robbery at Fansa.
The LCB further said Vipin was wanted in a case registered at Shirva Police Station in Udupi district under Sections 103, 61(2) and 3(5) of the BNS and Sections 25 and 3 of the Arms Act.
The Karnataka case relates to the August 7 shooting of David D’Souza at Mudarangadi. D’Souza, a former Mudarangadi gram panchayat president and businessman, was shot near the St Xavier Church complex.
Udupi Police subsequently arrested several suspects and investigated a possible contract-killing angle.
Valsad LCB said the arrested man was handed over to Umargam Marine Police Station for further investigation.
–IANS
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