High-flying gang grounded

Two stolen motorcycles, an occasional dash of red chilly powder and plane tickets is all they needed to take Delhi's runaway crime to Ahmedabad.

Two stolen motorcycles, an occasional dash of red chilly powder and plane tickets is all they needed to take Delhi's runaway crime to Ahmedabad.

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On Monday, the anti extortion cell of Delhi police's crime branch apprehended Kishan (23) and his accomplices Mukesh (24) and Amit Kumar (24).

“They have confessed to their involvement in more than 40 chain snatchings in northwest, outer and west Delhi as well as in Ahmedabad, Gujarat,” said Sanjay Tyagi, additional commissioner of police, crime.

Police said the trio had travelled to Ahmedabad in quick succession, in August and December 2009), to indulge in chain snatchings last year.

“Once in the city, they committed a series of snatchings with the help of their local accomplices Joginder, returning to Delhi only after lavishly spending the Rs 2 lakh that they made there.”

According to police, the trio used to go Ahmedabad by train and return by flight. “Joginder used to provide them with fast motorcycles and arrange for their accommodation.”

Police said the gang was not only adept at what they did but also well prepared for all

eventualities.

“All three of them are experts in riding motorcycles. To evade getting caught by onlookers after they had snatched a chain, the pillion rider would throw chilly powder if they chased them,” said the officer.

Police said a packet of chilly powder was among the first articles recovered from Kishan's possession.

But on Sunday their luck ran out. A team led by ACP Jasvir Malik and under the supervision of Insp. Suresh Kumar among others arrested them from near Rohini Sector 24.