Moradabad police busted an interstate ATM theft gang on Wednesday after arresting five members, including a fugitive CRPF jawan, following a gunfight on Kanth Road late Monday night. Two of the accused sustained gunshot injuries to their legs during the exchange, while the alleged mastermind, Niyamat alias Ghoda of Mewat, Haryana, remains at large.
The arrested individuals are Abdul Mateen (Barbalan near Jama Masjid), Tanzeem (Ghosiagali, Mughalpura), Hifzur Rehman alias Hasnain (Dehariya Nagfani), Zubair Khan (Khilluka, Palwal, Haryana), and Naresh alias Fauji, a fugitive CRPF jawan from Aurangabad, Bulandshahr.
Investigations revealed that the gang’s roots trace back to Delhi’s Tihar Jail, where Niyamat groomed recruits, including Naresh and Tanzeem, teaching them methods to uproot ATMs. After being released on bail, they joined the theft operations.
The case came to light on November 24, when the gang stole a Punjab National Bank ATM near Moradabad’s loco shed bridge. CCTV footage showed two burqa-clad men pulling the ATM with a car, later breaking it open in Atrasi forest, Amroha, and fleeing with ₹6.92 lakh. A case was registered at the Civil Lines police station.
SP (city) Kumar Ranvijay stated that police launched a multi-state investigation, analyzing thousands of CCTV clips and 1.5 lakh mobile numbers from tower data. A breakthrough occurred when Tanzeem used a FASTag at Hapur toll plaza, enabling surveillance and confirming the involvement of Moradabad criminals.
Police teams were dispatched across West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Gujarat, Delhi, Saharanpur, Ballia, and Mewat. During a chase, a police officer narrowly avoided injury when his vehicle hit a road divider.
On Monday night, police intercepted the gang on Kanth Road. Their car got stuck near the post-mortem house, and as the accused fired at officers, police retaliated and arrested them. Authorities recovered the vehicle, Rs3,08,300 in cash, tools, mobile phones, SIM cards, fake Aadhaar and ATM cards, two .315-bore pistols, live cartridges, empty shells, black spray paint, and two burqas.
The gang disclosed that Assam was their next planned target. Police continue raids to track Niyamat and his accomplices Taufiq Nepali and Ranvir alias Rana of Dhanduka Tai, Mewat.
