Pune: Alephata Police nab absconding main accused in Godhra massacre
Pune: The accused in the Godhra massacre, who was sentenced to life imprisonment (LI), was absconding after he was released on parole. He was involved in dacoities in Maharashtra. He, along with his four accomplices, struck at a heavy vehicle carrying tyres.
He was identified as Salim alias Salman Yusuf Zarda (55), a resident of Godhra taluka of Panchmahal district in Gujarat. The Alephata Police investigated the offence thoroughly and arrested the five accused, including the main accused. The accused confessed to have also committed offences within the limits of Manchar Police Station in Pune district and Sinnar Police Station in Nashik district. It was revealed during the investigation that 16 offences were registered against them in Maharashtra and Gujarat.
PI Dinesh Tayde, attached with the Alephata Police Station, said, “Complainant driver of the tempo (MH05DK7633) Somnath Narayan Gaikwad (30), resident of Solapur district, parked his vehicle loaded with 165 tyres belonging to JK Tyres & Industries Lt, Bhiwandi. He was headed towards Solapur. The tempo was parked in an open space on the premises of Indian Oil petrol pump at Mauje Ane village within the limits of the Alephata Police Station on January 7, 2024. He was sleeping when the dacoits looted the tyres and tubes worth over Rs 2.49 lakh. An offence was registered under section 303(2) of the BNS.
During the investigation, the police found that the accused looted valuables from other vehicles using the same modus operandi within the limits of the Manchar Police Station and Sinnar Police Station. The police received a tip-off that a gang from Gujarat was involved in looting vehicles using the modus operandi.
The police procured mobile numbers of the suspects and found out through technical analysis that the said offence was committed using a tempo (GJ14EX8853).
The accused have been identified as Salim alias Salman Yusuf Zarda (55), Sahil Hanif Pathan (21), Sufiyan Sikandar Chandki (23), Ayub Isag Sunthiya (29) and Irfan Abdulhamid Durvesh (41), all residents of Godhra taluka of Panchmahal district in Gujarat.
On sustained interrogation, they confessed to have committed the dacoities at Alephata, Manchar and Sinnar.
The tempo used in the offences and other stolen valuables amounting to Rs 14,40,878 were seized from their possession. Accused Salim alias Salman Yusuf Zarda is the main accused in the Godhra massacre. He was sentenced to life imprisonment. During his sentence, he was released on parole eight times. He jumped parole and was involved in committing offences by forming a gang. One offence each was registered against him at Alephata, Manchar and Sinnar and 13 offences in Gujarat.
The operation was conducted under the guidance of Superintendent of Police (SP) Pankaj Deshmukh and as instructed by PI Dinesh Tayde. API Amol Panhalkar, Asst PSI Chandra Dumbare, police personnel Vikas Gosavi, Vinod Gaikwad, Pankaj Parkhe, Amit Pol, Amit Malunje, Navin Argade, Sachin Rahane, Omkar Khune and Ganesh Jagtap took part in the operation.
