Unit 2 of the crime branch arrested a 27-year-old history-sheeter from Taloja with a firearm on Friday. The accused was involved in several crimes including an attempt to murder and raping a minor. He had escaped from police custody recently.
Acting on a tip-off received from a reliable source, the crime branch laid a trap near Taloja Central jail in Kharghar on Friday evening. As per the information, the accused was coming in a car with a firearm.
The accused identified as Pratik Manohar Shivpuje, a resident of Ghansoli reached near Taloja jail in a car. He was accompanied by one person identified as Laxman Rathore, 21. However, they noticed police presence and tried to flee by speeding the car. But the cat hit the pavement and the one of the tyres bursted. The police surrounded the car and caught Shivpuje.
When frisked, the police found one country-made pistol and two live cartridges from him. A case has been registered against him at Kharghar police station. According to police, several crimes have been registered against Shivpuje at Kapurbawdi, Koparkhairane, APMC, Vashi, Rabale, Mulund, Thane Nagar police station. Even another accused Rathore has been booked in 3 cases at Rabale police station. “MCOCA was also imposed on Shivpuje for his involvement in several crimes,” said an official from the Crime Branch.
