9 robbers arrested after encounter with Agra police

AGRA: In one of its biggest crackdowns, Agra police arrested nine members of a gang that allegedly committed at least 36 robberies, including 16 over the past three months. The nine men were caught after an encounter on the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday. However, three gang members managed to flee. According to police, among those arrested is the son of a gram pradhan and two are jewellers.
The gang was active in Kiraoli, Sikandra, Achenra, Shamshabad, Pinhat, Malpura and Jagner in Agra district and some areas of Morena district in Madhya Pradesh.
The apprehended men were identified as Kartar Singh (38) and his three brothers -- Ramhet Singh (22), Sahab Singh (20) and Suresh Singh (42). Another gangster was identified as Hariom Singh (20). All the five men originally hail from Naduapura village of Morena district of Madhya Pradesh.
The other members were Rahul alias Shribhagwan (24) of Nibohra and jewellers Akash Verma and Sabir Khan of Pinhat. Police also arrested Virender, son of Vipravali’s gram pradhan Ragunath.
The absconding men were identified as Nona, Majnu and Uttam, who hail from Madhya Pradesh.
Arvind Kumar Nirval, station house officer of Shamshabad, said, “Kartar along with his three brothers, a nephew and three brothers-in-law – two of whom are in jail (Udaybhan and Veerbhan)-- executed the robbery, especially at the homes and shops of jewellers. The gang was helped by Vipravali pradhan’s son Virender, who use to provide shelter to the accused men after they committed a robbery. The men than used to sell the stolen booty to local jewellers.”
During interrogation, the accused men claimed that they have lost count of the number of robberies they had executed over the years. The men bought several plots, built luxurious homes, bought SUVs and motorcycles from their ill-gotten gains.
The modus operandi of the gang was simple. Virender used to choose the target and share the details with the gang, who would conduct a recce before executing a robbery in the night hours. On December 28, the gang decamped with silver and gold jewellery from a bullion trader’s outlet in Shamshabad. In November, the gang helped five men to execute the murder-cum- robbery in a garment store owner’s home in Pinhat,” said the SHO.
Police have recovered 30 kg silver, several kilos of gold, Rs 60,000 worth spices and other valuables from them.
“We are now going to attach the properties of the accused men as they have acquired or built them from stolen goods. All the men will be charged with the Gangster Act, too,” he added.