Kingpin of band baja baraat gang that used kids to steal from weddings held in Delhi

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

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.

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. (AFP)

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 Rs 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.

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.