Failed trader turns informer for criminals

You must have heard of police informers. But what about informers for criminals? Here is one failed paper merchant who used to tip off criminals and help them execute robberies in Old Delhi, police said. Kam Pratap Singh reports. Partner in crime

You must have heard of police informers. But what about informers for criminals? Here is one failed paper merchant who used to tip off criminals and help them execute robberies in Old Delhi, police said.

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The businessman, identified as Yogender (he is known by single name only), helped a gang of robbers execute three successful armed robberies in the Old Delhi area, the police said.

Two out of the three robberies were committed at the Chawri Bazar paper market, where the businessman ran his business before incurring losses and shutting shop.

A resident of the New Usmanpur area in Delhi, he was currently working with a paper product distributor in Chawri Bazar. Yogender is missing and teams have been formed to nab him, a senior police officer said.

Yogender’s involvement, the officer said, came to light during the interrogation of one Rajneesh Kumar Rathore, who was arrested last week in connection with robbery cases.

“During interrogation, Rathore spilled the beans and alleged Yogender’s tip-off helped them execute the robberies. A team was sent to the shop where Yogender worked, but he could not be nabbed. It seems he somehow learnt about Rathore’s arrest,” the senior police officer added.

The officer said the first robbery took place at the shop of one Mukesh Jain, a paper merchant at the Chawri Bazar paper market in the first week of September.

“Four assailants armed with pistols and knives had barged into Jain’s office and decamped with cash and valuables worth around R6 lakh. The assailants had tied and gagged Jain’s employees before escaping with the booty,” the officer said.

A similar robbery was committed on December 9 by the same gang with a similar modus operandi at the shop of one Aman Gupta in the same market. Both the cases were registered at Jama Masjid police station.

The third robbery was reported from the Hauz Qazi area in the month of November. However, no case was registered since no complaint was made to the police.