CHENNAI: The Government Railway Police (GRP) on Friday arrested five teenagers, all aged 19, for having robbed a Coast Guard personnel of his belongings near Basin Bridge Railway Station in north Chennai, while he was travelling on the Howrah Mail last Sunday morning.
GRP officials said the arrested were M Shanmugam, S Vinothkumar, Ajith, Immanuel Peter and Itha from Old Washermenpet, Mint and Korukkupet areas.
Acting on information, the accused were caught in a cemetery along the railway track. A laptop bag containing an identity card, a mobile phone and a purse was seized from them. All five were habitual offenders and admitted to have spent the cash, officials said.
On Sunday, 23-year-old A Asli, the Coast Guard personnel, had woken up for his early morning prayers as the train was slowing down near Chennai Central. A teen stole his cell phone, which was put on charge, and jumped out of the train.
Taking his laptop bag which contained his ID card, Asli too jumped off the train, ran after him and got assaulted by four others and the bag too was snatched from him.
Later, he lodged a complaint with the GRP.
Meanwhile, three houses were reportedly burgled in a span of 48 hours in the city since Wednesday.
Two of the robberies were reported at Saidapet, and it is believed the same gang was involved in the incidents. At Kothalchavadi Street, it was the residence of one Rajagopal that was targeted - 25 sovereigns of jewellery, 3 kg of silverware and `20,000 in cash were stolen. In the flat of one Joseph Lawrence, 16 sovereigns of jewels and 1 kg of silver besides `1 lakh worth of silk sarees were taken away on Thursday afternoon. Police sources said the latest incident was reported in Egmore on Friday morning.