Four jailed for five years each for committing dacoity

While jailing the four, Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Sanjay Garg also imposed a fine of Rs 750 on each of them observing that incidents of dacoity are on the rise and they are required to be dealt strictly to raise public confidence.

"The convicts committed crime at a public place. There is no evidence if they are involved in any other criminal case. Such incidents are on rise and to arise public confidence, (they are) required to be tackled strictly," the court said.

The court also dismissed their plea to sentence them only to the 18-month imprisonment period, already undergone by them during their trial, saying it was not "sufficient punishment" for their crime.

According to the prosecution, accused Yusuf, Annisuddin, Naseem and Nafees and their accomplice Hafeez, who could not be arrested, had robbed traffic police constable Jitender Singh and his cousin Sandeep Negi near Khichripur overbridge in East Delhi of their motorcycle on September 11, 2006 night.

It said the accused, armed with a knife and a country-made pistol, accosted them and took away their motorcycle, mobile phones and a wallet containing Rs 60.

It said when public came there, three of the accused fled on motorcycle, while two others were caught and they were beaten and handed over to the police.

The court said it stands established that all the four accused in the company of their fifth associate Hafeez, sharing common intention had committed dacoity by looting motorcycle and other things from the complainant.