In a significant breakthrough, the Coimbatore City Police announced on Monday the dismantling of a major interstate criminal gang responsible for a spate of house break-ins across multiple states for nearly two decades. The crackdown culminated in the arrest of three key burglars on Friday.
The Arrests and the Gang's Vast Crime Record
City Police Commissioner A Saravana Sundar revealed that the three accused were apprehended in connection with a recent house break-in at a housing unit in Kavundampalayam. The investigation uncovered their involvement in a staggering number of cases nationwide. The trio collectively faces over 40 criminal cases across India.
Interrogations revealed the gang's extensive criminal portfolio, which includes serious charges like murder, attempted murder, numerous house break-ins, and violations of the Gangster and Anti-Social Activities Prevention Act and the Arms Act. Their operations spanned several states, including Uttar Pradesh, New Delhi, Noida, Haryana, and Uttarakhand.
Modus Operandi and Key Accused
The police detailed the gang's sophisticated method of operation. The alleged leader, 60-year-old Kallu Arif, is a seasoned criminal with 30 cases registered against him at various police stations. His age and use of a walking cane served as a perfect disguise, allowing him to enter housing societies without raising suspicion. He would identify locked houses and then inform his accomplice.
That accomplice, 48-year-old A Irfan (with around 17 prior cases including attempted murder), would then join Arif to execute the burglaries. A third member, 45-year-old Asif, would wait outside in an auto-rickshaw. Asif, who had 11 cases against him, was shot by police during the arrest attempt in the early hours of Saturday and later succumbed to his injuries in the hospital.
Arif and Irfan were also shot in the legs as they tried to escape and are currently undergoing treatment at the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital.
Wider Network and Future Arrests
Further investigations led to the arrest of the auto-rickshaw driver, 25-year-old R Ayub Khan from Sugunapuram, who transported the gang to and from the crime scene. He has been lodged in Coimbatore Central Prison.
Commissioner Sundar added that the gang typically operated during daylight hours. They would blend into local communities, often posing as utensil traders among groups of migrant workers, commit crimes, and then flee to their native places. Firiyan (23), the younger brother of the deceased Asif, who was staying with the group, is a wanted accused in a murder case in Uttar Pradesh.
The police commissioner confirmed that this gang had been active for nearly 20 years. He also indicated that the investigation is ongoing and is likely to lead to more arrests in the coming days.
