Kingpin of snatchers’ gangs held from UP

A young man, who calls himself the 'badshah' of snatchers and pickpockets and was allegedly involved in at least 73 cases in the capital and surrounding areas, was arrested from Uttar Pradesh.

A young man, who calls himself the 'badshah' of snatchers and pickpockets and was allegedly involved in at least 73 cases in the capital and surrounding areas, was arrested from Uttar Pradesh.

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Raju, a resident of Sultanpuri, was apprehended in Pilakhwa in western UP yesterday on a tip off in connection with a murder of a 55-year-old Delhi man, Chhaya Sharma, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer), said.

He along with his associates had allegedly murdered Roomal Lal at his residence in Prem Vihar on November 1, 2010.

"Raju is the undisputed king of various gangs of snatchers and pick-pocketers in various parts of Delhi. All gang members pay a major amount of their earnings to Raju.

"If any gang member is arrested, Raju provides him all sorts of assistance such as hiring a lawyer. He also resolves jurisdictional disputes between gangs," she said.

Five teams of Delhi Police and various teams of UP Police had been deployed to track him down. Police got information that Raju and his wife Parveen was residing in Pilakhwa.