Delhi Police team bust cellphone racket in Chardham pilgrimage, apprehend 4 including 2 women

New Delhi: In a quick action on cell phone racketeers, Delhi Police on Wednesday nabbed a group of thieves who were operating with impunity and looting the Char Dham pilgrims while on way to the Devbhoomi.

South India pilgrims visiting the Char Dham Yatra were mostly on the target of these thieves. They used to board trains along with these yatris, hobnob with them and then steal their valuable items & cash.

As the matter came to light, DCP Harendra Kumar Singh, Railways Unit ordered an immediate crackdown on the perpetrators. Keeping up the policy of zero tolerance against criminals, he formed a team of New Delhi Railway Station and called for speedy action.

The police team comprising of Inspector Ajay Kumar, head constables Dinesh & Shashi and constable Vikas under the supervision of New Delhi Railway Station SHO Rajesh Maurya swung into action and nabbed 4 people which included 2 women also. Acting on an intelligence input from Haridwar GRP, they intercepted the gang of mobile phone thieves in Dehradun Shatabdi.

A total of 42 mobile handsets and cash more than 57,000 was recovered from them.

Modus Operandi of thieves & how they were nabbed

These thieves used to board trains with pilgrims or visit the holy places. As they adorned themselves in devotee attire, they looked like other pilgrims and finding an opportune moment, they would strike & steal cash & phones of the pilgrims.

The matter first came to light when a passenger named Vinagamoorihy complained to GRP, Haridwar about theft of their belongings while on train. The pilgrim claimed that he along with his family members, came to Haridwar for Chaardhaam pilgrimage. On completion of their pilgrimage, they reached Haridwar Railway station to catch their return train. While boarding the train they noticed that the purses of the three ladies family members have been cut and their mobile phones and some cash have been stolen by someone.

Police took up the probe, analysed the CCTV footage and noticed suspicious activity of four persons (including 2 ladies) in a group. NDRS police led by Rajesh Maurya joined the investigation and subsequently nabbed the gang, who were purportedly seen in the Dehradun Shatabadi. As soon as Train No. 12018 (Dehradun Shatabdi) reached NDRS, the team intercepted the gang, who initially tried to dodge but on sustained interrogation, all the four accused persons confessed their involvement in the above said case of theft. All of them hail from Andhra Pradesh.