Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
A major stock of narcotic medicines being smuggled into the city was seized by the crime branch on Saturday night during a checkpoint targeting temple theft suspects. Police pursued the suspects over 15 km, arresting three accused and seizing 3,120 bottles worth Rs 12.48 lakh, with total recovered items valued at Rs 18.78 lakh, commissioner of police Pravin Pawar said.
The accused include Shaikh Sameer (24, Anandnagar, Latur), Syed Altaf (23, Balajichiwadi, Udgir, Latur), Umar Abdul Sahab Shaikh (36, Burhannagar, Latur), and main suspect Ashpak Patel (Champachauk, Shahbazaar).
15-Kilometer Chase
The crime branch had intel that a suspect from a Karnpura temple theft would arrive from Rohilagad, Jalna. Sub-Inspector Pravin Wagh’s team set up a checkpoint at Cambridge Chowk around 9 pm. At 9.45 pm, a four-wheeler (MH-12-HN-9917) ignored stop signals and sped toward Sawangi Bypass, prompting a high-speed chase through Naregaon, MIDC Cidco, Garware Maidan, and Bajrang Chowk, with the suspects ramming multiple vehicles. In Jinsi, crime branch police inspector Gajanan Kalyankar blocked the road; the fleeing car hit him but he avoided injury. Constable Dadasaheb Zhargad struck the windshield with a baton, slowing the vehicle. Despite this, the suspects drove toward TV Center and then the Collectorate. At Panchayat Samiti office, a blockade by assistant police inspector Ravikant Gacche and police sub inspector Jagannath Menkudle led to officer Ganesh Sagare being injured. The vehicle finally stopped due to roadblocks, and all three suspects were arrested by 10.30 pm.