Kolkata, Jan 5 (NationPress) - Detectives from the Anti-Dacoity Section of the Kolkata Police’s Detective Department have apprehended Abbas Raja, a hired robber originating from Uttar Pradesh, in connection with the Rs 3 crore gold heist that occurred in the Sinthee area of north Kolkata, according to police reports on Monday.

Following the robbery, Abbas managed to escape to Dubai, where he worked at a gold shop for about one and a half months, masquerading as a legitimate employee. Unfortunately for him, his tourist visa ran out, prompting a return to Uttar Pradesh to evade capture. On receiving a lookout notice for his arrest, Kolkata Police detectives apprehended him as soon as he arrived at Lucknow airport.

The incident unfolded on October 30 of the previous year when the suspects halted a scooter in front of a gold jewellery establishment in Sinthee, brandished pistols, and made away with gold valued at Rs 3 crore. Authorities mentioned that all individuals involved were connected to the gold trading industry.

Investigative efforts revealed that the heist was orchestrated by S.K. Israil, along with his accomplices Saidul and Masum. Israil had enlisted the help of Abbas Raja, a long-time associate from Uttar Pradesh, for this operation. Abbas secured firearms from Uttar Pradesh and journeyed to Kolkata, where he, alongside Masum, executed the armed robbery and subsequently distributed the stolen gold in the Hooghly district.

Afterwards, Abbas traveled by train from Hooghly to Burdwan and Asansol before finally reaching Uttar Pradesh. In the meantime, police had already detained Masum, Saidul, and Israil and managed to recover some of the stolen gold.

During questioning, police conducted a search at Abbas’s residence in the Akbarpur police station area of Ambedkar Nagar district, Uttar Pradesh. They discovered that upon his return from Kolkata in November, Abbas had begun making arrangements to go back to Dubai, obtaining a new tourist visa. He successfully eluded authorities at Lucknow airport before securing employment at a gold shop owned by an acquaintance in Dubai.

A lookout notice was later issued against him by the Kolkata Police headquarters. On Friday, Abbas returned to Lucknow after his visa expired, intending to stay low until he could attempt another trip to Dubai. However, immigration officials detained him at the airport and notified Kolkata Police.

Detectives arrested Abbas around 1 a.m. on Sunday, bringing him back to Kolkata on Monday. Authorities stated that he still possesses at least 700 grams of stolen gold. Plans are in motion to transport him to Uttar Pradesh for further investigations aimed at recovering the remaining stolen gold.

Meanwhile, the three other suspects currently in judicial custody will be interrogated at the Presidency Correctional Home about efforts to recover the rest of the stolen gold.