Lucknow police bust ‘Kachha Baniyan’ gang’s dacoity plot, 7 held

Lucknow: A joint team of the Surveillance Cell, DCP South and teams from Mohanlalganj, Nigohan and Nagaram police stations arrested seven members of an inter-district criminal gang involved in dacoity, armed robbery and burglaries. Five of the accused carried Rs 25,000 reward on their heads. The arrests were made between Apr 13 and 15, following multiple encounters.Those arrested were Ramchandra alias Chhotu, Kamlesh, Babu Ram, Jhabbu alias Seth, Abhilakh Lonia, Shibbu alias Vikas and Satish Soni (jeweller). ACP, Mohanlalganj, Rajneesh Kumar, said the gang, believed to be part of a nomadic tribal group operating in the traditional ‘Kachha Baniyan' (wearing only undergarments) style, used crude but calculated techniques to evade law enforcement."They reconnoitre villages in advance, avoid using mobile phones, hide motorcycles 2 km away and strip down to just undergarments. Their bodies are slicked with oil to evade capture and they strike only on dark moonless nights (Shukl paksh by Hindu calendar)," he said, adding that the group attempted a dacoity in Bhaidwa village (Mohanlalganj) on Mar 24, during which a gang member accidentally shot himself. The gang later staged his death as suicide by mutilating his body and dumping it on railway tracks.Police recovered Rs 21,600, jewellery worth around Rs 5 lakh, three motorcycles and four country-made pistols. A jeweller, Satish Soni, who bought stolen ornaments, was also arrested. Efforts to trace the gang's wider network are on.