Police Bust Interstate Gang of Thieves in Varanasi, Arrest 16 Members

A well-orchestrated operation by the Varanasi police led to the arrest of 16 members of an interstate gang of thieves, who were targeting tourists and pilgrims in the city. The police team, disguised as pilgrims, posed as tourists to gather information and ultimately busted the gang at a paying guest house in the Lahartara area. The gang members, consisting of 13 women and 3 men, were involved in stealing jewellery, purses, luggage, and mobile phones from unsuspecting visitors.

Key Takeaways:

• The gang, operating in Varanasi, consisted of 13 women and 3 men, with members from Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and other states.
• The gang was involved in stealing jewellery, purses, luggage, and mobile phones from tourists and pilgrims, with a total value of the recovered items estimated at Rs.10 lakh.
• The gang members would often argue in public to make it appear they were strangers and then disperse into the crowd to steal from unsuspecting visitors.
• The gang operated around Ganga ghats and major temples, preferring to stay in guest houses to avoid detection.
• The gang was active mainly during months of heavy tourist footfall and was wanted in at least three cases of theft, with several cases already registered against them.
• The police used CCTV footage from over 120 cameras, including cameras installed along Kanwariya routes, to track the gang's movements and ultimately lead them to the guest house in Lahartara.
• The gang was involved in targeting tourists from South India, Maharashtra, Kolkata, and other states, particularly during events like the Maha Kumbh.

Statistics:

• 16 members of the interstate gang were arrested by the Varanasi police.
• The total value of the recovered items is estimated at Rs. 10 lakh.
• Six yellow metal chains, two silver anklets, three mobile phones, six chain cutters, and Rs.1,00,400 in cash were recovered from the gang's possession.
• Four police teams were deployed to investigate the thefts, including one team disguised as pilgrims and another in plain clothes.
• The police reviewed footage from over 120 CCTV cameras to track the gang's movements.

Sources:

• Hindustan Times.