3 held for robbery using fake Press ID

The arrested were identified as Komanpathi (36) and Manikandan (28) from SingaperumalKoil and Antony Steapen (28) of Salem. Police seized fake Press ID cards from them.

Udayashankar (26), a lorry driver from Salem was changing a tyre of a vehicle in the GST Road near Singaperumal Koil on Wednesday night. A car labelled as Press approached Udayashankar and three men who got down from the vehicle began to question him about the lorry and its load. Police said all of them had shown a Press ID which showed that they were working as reporters for Makkal Garjanai magazine. The group threatened Udayakumar saying they would publish that he was smuggling illegal goods in the lorry. They asked him to pay Rs 3,000 for not publishing it. Police said the gang took all the money from Udayashankar along with his mobile phone.

Udayashankar began to shout for help and started to run from the spot. An auto driver who noticed him, came forward to help. Meanwhile the highway patrol police arrived at the spot. Police sources said the group even threatened policemen saying they were not doing night duty properly. Police, when checked their ID cards, spotted a spelling mistake in it. After investigation, it was found that they were not from press.

All three were taken to the Maraimalainagar police station. Police said the gang used to cheat people introducing themselves as media personnel and fetch cash from them. All three were arrested and remanded in judicial custody.