Raipur: In a joint operation by the Anti-Crime and Cyber Unit (ACCU) and Abhanpur police, four alleged members of a gang that targeted people transporting cash were arrested. The gang is accused of blocking victims on deserted roads, attacking them with knives and chilli powder, and robbing them of Rs 3.5 lakh in two separate incidents.
The accused were identified as Parmanand Sahu (26), Tekram alias Tiku Dhiwar (30), Pintu alias Deshbandhu Netam (30), and Yogi Raj Sonwani (18). All are residents of the Abhanpur area.
According to police, the gang tracked individuals carrying cash after rural bank branches or business establishments closed. They would intercept victims on isolated roads, throw chilli powder into their eyes, threaten them with knives, and flee with the cash. Pintu Netam, believed to be the gang's kingpin, is a habitual offender with prior cases of assault and kidnapping.
The arrests were made following an investigation into a June 1 robbery near Sarakhi village, where a Bank Mitra was robbed of Rs 2 lakh. During interrogation, the accused allegedly confessed to another robbery on March 14, in which a Choice Centre operator was robbed of Rs 1.5 lakh.
Acting on the directions of Raipur Rural Superintendent of Police Shweta Shrivastava Sinha, police analyzed CCTV footage and activated local informants to identify the suspects.
