Eleven-member gang of robbers smashed in Delhi

New Delhi, Feb 11 (PTI) Almost every day, they robbedbus passengers of around Rs 30-50,000 and a number of mobilephones but luck ran out for 11 members of "Karate" gang in thecapital while they were planning a heist.

The gang members were arrested from Rohini yesterdayfollowing an input that they will gather and conspire tohighjack a bus and rob passengers, Chhaya Sharma, DeputyCommissioner of Police (Outer), said.

"We laid a trap on the basis of a tip off. One of thepolice party overheard the conversation of the gang. Theydecided that seven of them would board the bus and the restwill follow them on TSRs and motorcycles," Sharma said.

The arrested have been identified as Nand Kishorealias ''Karate'' (38), Ajid Hussain (34), Man Singh (32), Mukesh(35), Sanjay (22), Manoj (19), Virender (19), Niraj (22), Ajay(23), Ram Achal (42) and Sumit (23).

Kishore, previously involved in at least 30 cases,used to insist that all members should "come prepared" forcommitting crime with knives or surgical blades.

"They all used to communicate with each other onmobiles phones and never visit the house of others. Even theydo not know the addresses of others so that in case of beingapprehended one could not lead to the arrest of others,"Sharma said.

Twenty-nine mobile phones, two autorickshaws, twomotorcycles, ten knives and a surgical blade were recoveredfrom them.

Since the last four months, the gang, on a routinebasis, used to board buses plying between Budh Vihar toShivaji Stadium, Manglapuri to Azad Pur, Uttam Nagar to ISBTand Mangolpuri to Kamla Market and commit pick pocketing,Sharma said, adding that they operated between 8 am and one pmand 8 pm and 11 pm.

"On an average, they used to pick pocket or rob Rs30,000 to 50,000 and a number of mobile phones from buspassengers on a day," Sharma said.

They allegedly used to flash their weapons to rob andto make away. "Maximum part of robbed booty was used by themto gift valuables to their girl friends and spend time withsex workers," Sharma said.

Hussain, Sumit and Man Singh are auto drivers whileMukesh is working as a Band Master in Mangolpuri. Bunti andNeeraj are labourers in a factory while Virender owns anelectric appliances shop.

All of them have been previously involved in crimes.