Vagabond settlements on police radar

PRAYAGRAJ: The local police will keep an eye on the temporary settlements of vagabond tribes outside villages and highways and check their identity documents after some members of the clan were found involved in criminal activities, police said.

The move comes in the wake of recent arrest of some gang members involved in theft cases. It also came to fore that gangs from outside the state were also involved in thefts and even heinous crimes in the region.

SP (crime) Ashutosh Mishra said “Involvement of vagabond communities have often been found in crimes in many areas of the district. The settlements of these communities will now be under watch. Police will check their identification documents and will keep an eye on those with suspicious activities.”

The members of a gang busted by joint teams of Kaundhiara and Tharwai police recently had revealed that they constantly changed their hideouts to avoid suspicion.

They used to pose as honey traders and roam around in villages. After selecting their targets, the gang used to strike at night.

They carry sickle, daggers, choppers and other weapons and kill the house owners on slightest provocation. The gang members had allegedly confessed to have killed a couple during burglary in Tharwai while injuring many others in similar crimes.

Around a year ago, police had busted a big gang and arrested around a dozen of its members for killing three members of a family in Holagarh area of trans-Ganga. The arrested accused belonged to vagabond criminal tribe of Western Uttar Pradesh.

Over two years back, a gang of criminals that included women belonging from South Indian states had made off with cash vault containing several lakh from cash van outside Prayagraj Junction.

Many of the gang members were arrested but not much recovery of stolen cash could be made from them.

To note, vagabond communities from Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and even Uttar Pradesh often take shelter outside railway stations, Parade Ground, under railway bridges, over bridges, highways etc. While some members of these communities do odd jobs for living and keep changing their place others have been found involved in burglary, loot, snatchings and other crimes.

THE MOVE COMES IN THE WAKE OF RECENT ARREST OF SOME GANG MEMBERS INVOLVED IN THEFT CASES.