A notorious gang of criminals, who evaded arrest by hiding deep in the jungle and hills, was finally captured by Madhya Pradesh police after a five-month-long operation. The police seized 1.6 kg of gold, 6.24 kg of silver jewellery worth over Rs 1.23 crore, Rs 3 lakh in cash, two two-wheelers, and burglary tools from the gang.
The breakthrough came after police acted on a tip-off and technical intelligence, leading to the gang’s arrest in the dense forests of Bag-Tanda, Dhar district. DCP (zone-1) Vinod Kumar Meena revealed that the accused had been hiding in these areas, making it nearly impossible for the police to track them. The arrested members include Khadak Singh from Bhagoli village, Sumal Singh Alawa from Guradiya village, Gamar Singh alias Gamariya Masaniya, and Rammoo Masaniya, who had been evading arrest for years. Another accomplice, Rajesh Idiya, remains at large.
The gang confessed to targeting locked and vacant homes across multiple states, including Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh. They avoided using mobile phones during their crimes and carefully planned their burglaries by surveying their targets during the day. At night, they used tools like screwdrivers and cutters to break into houses and steal valuables.
The gang operated in a hierarchical structure, with lower-level members committing the thefts and passing on the stolen goods to those higher up in the network. The stolen jewellery was melted down and sold to local jewellers.
Authorities are now preparing to register additional charges, including Section 111(4) of the BNS (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita), which allows life imprisonment for organised crime. The police are also planning to seize the gang members’ properties under Section 107 of the BNS. Notably, some members of the gang own vast land holdings, including 500 bighas of land and XUV cars, despite choosing a life of crime over education.
