Sitapur Police Crack Down on Gang Impersonating Officers to Rob Commuters
In a significant breakthrough, the Sitapur police on Wednesday apprehended six members of a criminal gang that was masquerading as police personnel to target unsuspecting commuters. The accused individuals, who operated across various districts, have been sent to jail following their arrest, according to official statements.
Coordinated Police Operation Leads to Arrests
Superintendent of Police Ankur Agarwal revealed that the arrests were executed through a joint effort involving teams from the Ramkot police station and the Crime Branch. The individuals taken into custody have been identified as Sunny Rajput, Rajan alias Belua, Rohit, Brijesh, Rishabh Gihar, and Kunal.
During the operation, law enforcement officials seized Rs 20,200 in cash, five blades specifically used for pickpocketing activities, a country-made pistol recovered from Brijesh, and a vehicle that was utilized in the commission of these crimes. Authorities are actively working to locate and apprehend other members associated with this gang.
Deceptive Tactics and Modus Operandi
Upon interrogation, the accused confessed to employing a sophisticated ruse to appear authentic. They wore police uniforms and maintained haircuts resembling those of police officers to gain the trust of their targets. Their strategy involved approaching motorcycle riders and requesting lifts, exploiting the inherent trust associated with the police uniform.
Once seated on the motorcycle, the gang members would discreetly use blades to cut the pockets of the riders and steal their cash. After successfully committing the theft, they would alight from the vehicle under some pretext, leaving the victim completely unaware until much later, as detailed by SP Agarwal.
Specific Incidents and Investigation Details
Police investigations have uncovered that the gang carried out multiple such incidents. On November 27, 2025, in Maholi town, Rohit took a lift from a biker and stole cash before fleeing the scene. In another instance on January 30, near the Gobarepurwa bridge on the highway in Ramkot, accused Kunal targeted a private bank employee and stole approximately Rs 40,000 using the identical method.
The pivotal breakthrough in the case occurred after the bank employee filed a formal complaint. A dedicated team led by Crime Branch Inspector Satyendra Vikram Singh meticulously analyzed CCTV footage, which captured the accused fleeing in a car and also showed bike-borne suspects. By piecing together these crucial clues, the police were able to identify and subsequently arrest the gang members.
Background and Criminal Network
Further investigations revealed that all six accused individuals are relatives and originally hail from the Kannauj and Farrukhabad districts. They strategically traveled to other districts to commit their crimes, a tactic that made it considerably more challenging for authorities to trace their activities and movements.
