Dewas Police Cracks Down on Inter-State Chain-Snatching Gang
In a significant breakthrough, Dewas police on Thursday successfully busted a notorious inter-state gang that had been orchestrating a series of sensational chain-snatching incidents across multiple states. The operation culminated in the arrest of three key accused, apprehended from locations as distant as Odisha and Gujarat, marking a major victory in the fight against organized crime.
Details of the Criminal Spree
The gang's activities first came to light on January 8, when they targeted Rukmani Sharma in the Radhaganj area as she was returning home with her grandson. This was swiftly followed by another incident on January 19, where Usha Navrange was robbed while on her way to a temple. These brazen attacks prompted immediate action from law enforcement authorities.
Under the strategic direction of Superintendent of Police Punit Gehlot and Additional Superintendent of Police Jaiveer Singh Bhadauria, a specialised force comprising 40 police personnel was mobilized. This team was divided into four dedicated squads that worked tirelessly on the case for an intensive period of 40 days, piecing together clues and evidence.
Investigation Techniques and Breakthroughs
SP Punit Gehlot highlighted the sophisticated methods employed during the investigation. "The probe involved leveraging a vast network of community-supported CCTV cameras. Our teams meticulously scanned over 800 CCTV feeds to trace the suspects' escape routes, while simultaneously tracking technical evidence that ultimately led us to Ganjam in Odisha and Surat in Gujarat," he explained.
During interrogation, the gang members confessed to being involved in over 50 robberies across various regions of India. In addition to the two primary cases in Dewas, police uncovered a third robbery committed in Ratlam on January 18. Further investigations revealed that the gang had also made attempted robberies in Indore and Ujjain during their crime spree.
Recovery of Stolen Goods and Arrests
The police successfully recovered the gold looted in the three main cases, which included two gold chains, a gold pendant, two motorcycles, and several mobile phones. The arrested individuals were identified as Kanhu Charan Badhai, aged 30, who was apprehended from Odisha, and Dhaval Kumar Parekh, aged 42, arrested from Gujarat. Parekh is noted as a habitual offender with a staggering 24 registered cases across Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh. The third accused, Rekhabai Parekh, aged 40, was also arrested from Surat, Gujarat.
All three accused are currently in police custody as authorities continue to delve deeper into their potential involvement in dozens of other cases reported nationwide. This operation underscores the relentless efforts of Dewas police in combating inter-state criminal networks and ensuring public safety.
