In a significant crackdown, the Pune Railway Police have dismantled an interstate criminal network, apprehending five individuals linked to high-value thefts on long-distance trains. The operation resulted in the recovery of gold and diamond jewellery valued at a staggering Rs 40 lakh.
The Elaborate Theft on Gandhidham-Bengaluru Express
The incident that led to the bust occurred on the morning of November 26 aboard the Gandhidham-Bengaluru Express. A family traveling from Surat was preparing to alight at Miraj railway station. As a female member of the family moved her suitcases towards the exit, she was approached by five men who presented themselves as head loaders, or coolies.
Pretending to offer help with her luggage, the group employed clever distraction techniques. While the traveler was occupied, they managed to stealthily siphon off precious jewellery from her bags before melting away into the bustling crowd at the station.
Cross-State Manhunt and Arrest
Following the theft, the accused swiftly left Goa by road and then boarded a flight to Delhi in an attempt to evade capture. However, the Pune Railway Police, led by Superintendent Ashwini Sanap, were already on their trail. Through technical investigation and confidential intelligence, the police identified the perpetrators as members of a notorious gang from Haryana known for targeting railway passengers.
"After technical investigation and confidential information, we found that the members were associated with a gang from Haryana notorious for railway theft," stated Superintendent Sanap. A coordinated effort with airport authorities and the Delhi Crime Branch led to the detention of the accused at the airport.
The arrested individuals have been identified as:
- Monu Rajkumar (25)
- Hawasing Fattesingh (66)
- Amit Kumar Balwant Sing (31)
- Ajay Satish Kumar (28)
- Kuldeep Ramphal (28)
Recovery and Police Appeal to Travelers
The police secured a nine-day remand for the accused, during which they successfully recovered the stolen jewellery. Superintendent Sanap confirmed that approximately 233 grams of jewellery, predominantly gold, was stolen. The recovered items are linked to two separate cases, both registered at the Miraj Railway Police Station.
Issuing a crucial warning to the public, Superintendent Sanap appealed, "We appeal to train travelers not to trust any unknown person who offers them help to carry luggage." This case highlights the sophisticated methods employed by organized gangs preying on unsuspecting passengers during the chaos of arrival and departure.
The successful bust underscores the effectiveness of interstate police cooperation and technical surveillance in tackling organized crime on the Indian railway network.
