Delhi Police Crime Branch Apprehends Six Bangladeshi Dacoits After Intense Gunfire Exchange
In a significant breakthrough, the Delhi Police crime branch has successfully arrested six Bangladeshi men belonging to a notorious gang of dacoits, following a dramatic exchange of gunfire. This arrest marks the culmination of a year-long manhunt after the gang carried out high-profile dacoities in Mapusa and Dona Paula, Goa, where they tied up, assaulted, and held victim families hostage during the heists.
Gang's Criminal Activities Across India
Police investigations reveal that the dacoits had illegally entered India and executed a series of dacoities spanning multiple states, including Delhi, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, and Goa. Over nearly seven to eight years, the gang predominantly targeted senior citizens, stealing gold and cash, and then fled to Bangladesh to avoid arrest in India. Their modus operandi involved meticulous planning to evade law enforcement.
Collaborative Investigation Leads to Arrest
The cases in Goa were transferred to the Goa Police crime branch in January this year, where officers diligently gathered clues to trace the accused. A dedicated team, comprising personnel from the cyber cell and North Goa district police, played a crucial role in generating intelligence, which was subsequently shared with the Delhi Police team.
Based on leads developed by Sub-Inspector Ashok Kumar, the Delhi Police crime branch intercepted the gang during the intervening night of April 14 and 15. Intelligence indicated that the armed gang, wanted for a trail of robbery, murder, and dacoity cases, was planning to gather in a secluded forest area near the Sarai Kale Khan cremation ground to commit a dacoity in South Delhi.
Dramatic Confrontation and Arrest Details
Under the direct supervision of DCP Sanjeev Kumar Yadav and the operational leadership of ACP Pankaj Arora, a trap was laid to corner the gang near Sarai Kale Khan. The criminals, in a bid to evade arrest, defied surrender warnings and opened fire at the officers. In a swift response, the police team overpowered the gang and apprehended them after an intense gunfire exchange.
From the gang, police recovered four country-made pistols, live ammunition, and house-breaking tools. Authorities noted that the dacoits paid human smugglers to facilitate their escape back into Bangladesh and strictly avoided using mobile phones to remain invisible to police tracking.
Arrested Accused and Escaped Members
The arrested individuals include Suman Hauldhar (35), Saifful Islam (31), Sohail Sheikh (35), Md Nasir (48), Noor Islam (56), and Zakir Haldar (40). However, two other accused, Shakayat and Illiyas, also Bangladeshi residents, managed to escape under the cover of darkness. Each gang member is involved in at least 14 criminal cases, including murders.
Gang's Criminal Trail and Future Proceedings
The Bangladeshi dacoits initially targeted Delhi before expanding their operations to other parts of the country. Last year, they specifically targeted Goan families on two occasions. Police have confirmed that the arrested accused will soon be taken on a transfer warrant and brought to Goa to face charges related to the dacoities committed there.
This arrest highlights the persistent efforts of law enforcement agencies in tackling cross-border criminal activities and ensuring justice for the victims affected by the gang's prolonged spree of violence and theft.
