Police arrest kingpin of ‘band baja baraat’ gang

MODUS OPERANDI Gang from MP hired children, trained them to steal at weddings; targeted gifts given to brides

The police on Saturday arrested the alleged kingpin from the band baja baraat gang who hired children and trained them to steal and used them for thefts at weddings across Delhi.

Raka, 32, was allegedly involved in bag-lifting reported in recent past from the marriage functions held at farmhouses and even five-star hotels.

With the arrest, the police recovered ₹4 lakh in cash, gold and silver jewellery and other gifts given to the bride by the guests worth Rs 8 lakh.

The matter came to fore on June 19 when a Delhi-based businessman, Manoj Choudhary, reported that his dark green colour briefcase containing cash, gold and silver jewellery, an expensive wrist watch, given by guests to the bride was stolen from his daughter’s wedding function at Kamya Palace, Bijwasan.

Following the information, a case was registered and investigation was taken up.

“The incident was found to be captured in the CCTV cameras installed at the venue. The available video footage were thoroughly analysed and sources at various farmhouses and hotels were asked to gather intelligence about the movement of the suspects. On analyzing the CCTV footage and video recordings of the venue it was revealed that three people including two juveniles were involved in this theft,” DCP southwest, Surendra Kumar said.

“It has also been revealed that the crime was committed by suspects after spending considerable time at the venue and making themselves familiar and comfortable. They were never in a hurry, had their dinner at the party and patiently waited for the opportune time to strike. They even dressed like those attending the wedding,” he said.

According to the police, after entering the venue the juveniles mingled with the crowd and targeted the person keeping the cash.

“They then targeted the briefcase kept next to the bride and groom believed to have all the expensive articles including cash and quickly vanished from the scene,” Kumar said.

According to the police, these gangs belong to Madhya Pradesh and laid traps at farm- houses and banquet halls where weddings were being organised.

“The team also visited the three villages of Madhya Pradesh and tried to identify the thieves involved in the incident. The team also scanned the area with an idea that the criminals might have used any mobile network at the affected time and place. Raka was then apprehended from his rented house in Pochanpur, New Delhi,” Kumar said.

During questioning, Raka disclosed his involvement in the crime along with his associates Neeraj, Kuljeet and two minors.

“Raka disclosed that he had been running a branch of criminals hail from Rajgarh and visited Delhi in past and committed several incidents of bag lifting from wedding functions. He further disclosed that they engage the minors in the commission of crime. He said that minors between 9 and 15 years of age are auctioned in their area on the basis of their potential and intelligence. The bid sometimes crosses ₹10 lakh for a kid,” Kumar said.

POLICE RECOVERED ₹4 LAKH IN CASH, GOLD AND SILVER JEWELLERY AND OTHER GIFTS GIVEN TO BRIDE BY THE GUESTS WORTH ₹8 LAKH