A significant breakthrough was made on Monday as four members of a looter gang were arrested, with items worth approximately Rs 1.28 crore recovered from their possession. Based on reliable intelligence, the special team led by Additional DCP Alok Kumar Sharma carried out a relentless search operation in Bori village (Alirajpur district), and Bagh and Tanda villages (Dhar district). The police team gathered critical information and maintained technical surveillance, with assistance from the cyber branch.
The burglars, who were seasoned criminals, avoided sleeping at their homes at night and instead slept on the ground in the hilly regions of Bagh-Tanda. The police team, determined to catch the suspects, trekked 4-5 kilometers on foot during a night operation.
One of the arrested, Khadak Singh, was a wanted criminal in multiple cases across Nagpur (Maharashtra), Rehti (Sehore district), and Dehat (Chhindwara district), where his fingerprints were found at crime scenes. Other arrested individuals included Sumal Singh, Gamar Singh, Rammu Masania, and Rajesh Ediya, all of whom had numerous criminal cases registered against them. Each of the accused had a reward of Rs 10,000 on their heads for their arrest.
The gang primarily targeted locked, unoccupied houses and avoided carrying mobile phones to prevent being tracked. They conducted reconnaissance of neighborhoods during the day to identify potential targets and struck after dark when residents were asleep. They used tools such as screwdrivers, cutters, and wrenches to break into homes, stealing gold, silver, and cash.
In the police raid, a significant quantity of stolen goods was recovered, including 1kg and 60 grams of gold jewelry, 6kg and 240 grams of silver jewelry, Rs 3 lakh in cash, two two-wheelers, and various tools. The total value of the recovered items amounts to Rs 1.28 crore. While the police have arrested four individuals, the search for the fifth member, Rajesh Ediya, is still ongoing.
The authorities are continuing their investigation into the full extent of the gang’s operations and their accomplices.