Gang that used differentlyabled man, woman to rob people, busted

NEW DELHI: Five members of a gang, including a woman and a differently-abled man, have been arrested for a series of robberies executed after offering lifts to unsuspecting people, police said on Monday.The gang members had allegedly killed one of their victims after robbing him in Ghaziabad earlier this month while another man was left for dead in Delhi but survived, said Alok Kumar, joint commissioner of police (crime branch).

The 32-year-old woman, Sunita, and the differently-abled man, Rakesh (52), were intentionally roped in as their presence in the car did not raise suspicion among victims, said police, adding that the gang would steal cars and then offer lifts to commit the crimes. “Sunita is known as Daku Haseena among her gang members. She would sit in the front seat of the car in which the victims were offered lift and then robbed. Rakesh’s role was to get off the car immediately on spotting a target. His presence in the car further helped put the victims at ease,” said Rajesh Deo, deputy commissioner of police (crime branch). The police did not provide their last names.

“The gang was allegedly led by a 34-year-old man known as Anna who was allegedly member of the notorious ‘thak-thak’ gang before he formed his own group. Police said they got a tip-off that led to the arrest of one of the gang members, 28-year-old Sandeep, in the early hours of Saturday. Sandeep allegedly told the police that he was on his way to join other gang members who were planning a robbery in outer Delhi’s Sultanpuri. Police then nabbed the other four of the gang.