In a major breakthrough, Rajasthan Police arrested four key members of a notorious burglary gang—including its leader—17 months after a high-profile heist in Jaisalmer. The gang was captured during a pre-dawn raid on a hidden camp in the rugged Aravalli hills near Chittorgarh-Begun, following four days of intense drone-assisted surveillance.
The gang had been under observation by police units using drones, binoculars, and ground teams. Wildlife-infested and difficult to access, the forest region had served as a hideout for the accused, who were eventually caught while asleep in their hill camp.
The heist, which took place on August 28, 2024, involved the theft of 113 tolas of gold, 4.8 kg of silver, and Rs3 lakh in cash from the residence of Maheshwari in Jaisalmer. Dhorimanna Police immediately launched an investigation, led by ASP Jasaram Bose, CO Sukhram Vishnoi, and supported by technical surveillance teams.
Barmer Superintendent of Police, Narendra Singh Meena, confirmed the arrest of Saniya alias Sameer Kanjar (30), Anil Kanjar (20), Ramesh Chandra Ganwar (28), and jeweller Basant Kumar Soni (54). The accused have extensive criminal records, with 31, 9, and 1 previous cases respectively. Soni was also booked under the SC/ST Act.
Inspired by techniques depicted in the South Indian film Theeran, the gang used a six-wheeler truck for mobility and left their phones behind to avoid detection. After selling the stolen items to jewellers in Ladpura, they retreated into forested hills, only occasionally surfacing near highways.
One of the arrests took place near the Maharashtra-Madhya Pradesh border as Rameshchand attempted to flee to Tamil Nadu. The jeweller Basant Kumar Soni was apprehended in Ladpura following further investigation.
Police teams led by ASI Rawataram and DST head constable Premaram set up a base 5 km from the gang’s hideout and conducted a successful pre-dawn raid. Authorities continue to interrogate the accused as part of an ongoing investigation that spans several districts including Udaipur, Bhilwara, and Chittorgarh.
