5 arrested for robbing Indian textile traders in Moscow

Moscow, Feb 19 (PTI) Five persons belonging to a gang
allegedly involved in armed robberies of at least a dozen
Indian textile traders here have been arrested, police said.

In November-December last year several Indian textile
traders operating from a complex in North-East Moscow owned by
a London-based Indian businessman were robbed at gun point
while carrying large sums of cash.

The police said in all cases the amount robbed was not
less than five lakh roubles (35 roubles = USD One).

On the request of the Russia-based Indian Business
Alliance (IBA), the Indian Embassy here had strongly taken up
the matter with the local law-enforcement agencies.

The gang consisted of three citizens of Uzbekistan, a
resident of the breakaway Georgian province of Abkhazia and a
local student, Interfax reported quoting Moscow Criminal
Investigation Department spokesperson Alexei Bakhrameyev.

A Russian TT pistol, three foreign made pneumatic
pistols and two stolen laptops were seized from the accused.

Police said the involvement of the gang in at least
eight cases of robbing Indian traders has been established and
further investigation is still on.

The three Uzbeks were employed as migrant workers at
the Indian traders' warehouse and had inside information about
the amount of cash and movements of their victims, police
said. PTI