Kolkata, 05 January (H.S.) : Detectives of the Anti-Dacoity Section of the Kolkata Police have arrested Abbas Raja, a hired robber from Uttar Pradesh, in connection with the Rs 3 crore gold robbery in the Sinthee area of north Kolkata, police said on Monday.

According to police, Abbas had fled India soon after the robbery and travelled to Dubai, where he worked at a gold shop for nearly one and a half months while posing as a regular worker. After his tourist visa expired, he planned to return to Uttar Pradesh and go into hiding. However, acting on a lookout notice issued against him, Kolkata Police detectives arrested Abbas immediately after he landed at Lucknow airport.

The robbery took place on October 30 last year when armed assailants stopped a scooter outside a gold jewellery workshop in the Sinthee area. The accused brandished pistols and escaped with gold worth around Rs 3 crore. Police said all those involved were connected to the gold trade.

Investigations revealed that the robbery was masterminded by S.K. Israil along with his associates Saidul and Masum. Abbas Raja, an old associate of Israil from Uttar Pradesh, was hired to execute the crime. Abbas arranged pistols from Uttar Pradesh and travelled to Kolkata, where he and Masum carried out the armed robbery. The stolen gold was later divided in the Hooghly district.

After the crime, Abbas travelled through Burdwan and Asansol before returning to Uttar Pradesh. In the meantime, police arrested Israil, Saidul and Masum and recovered a portion of the stolen gold.

During interrogation, police learned that Abbas had managed to flee to Dubai from Lucknow airport before being arrested earlier. A lookout notice was later issued, leading to his detention upon return. Police said Abbas is still believed to be in possession of at least 700 grams of the stolen gold. Further searches are planned in Uttar Pradesh to recover the remaining loot.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh