Police arrest eight-member gang for robbing lottery ticket from winner after promising more money

MALAPPURAM: Eight people have been arrested for trying to steal a first prize-winning lottery ticket by offering more money. The arrest was made on the complaint of Alavi, a native of Mancheri's Pappinipara. Mujeeb from Alanallur's Thiruvizhamkunnu, Prabhakaran of Kunnikkal in Pulpatta, Abdul Aziz and Abdul Gafoor, natives of Srikrishnapuram's Kallurikal, Ajith Kumar from Kongasseri house, Prince from Kalasiyil House, Sreekkuttan from Cholakunn house and Mubashir from Karimpuzha, Palakkad were arrested.

Alavi got the first prize for the Nirmal ticket of the Kerala lottery on August 19. Alavi was approached by a gang pretending to be private bank employees with the promise of more money. Alavi, his son and his friend reached Kacherippadi with tickets as instructed by the gang. The accused who came in two cars and a bike took both of them into the vehicle, saying that they wanted to scan the tickets, and fatally injured them. Then the gang left with the tickets. The accused were caught after an investigation focused on the CCTV footage of the area.

The police said that the gang was scamming lottery winners on the pretext of money laundering.