Gang of 7 caught stealing from festival shoppers

The Pydhonie police arrested a seven-member gang for allegedly trying to rob shoppers at crowded places during festivals.

The Pydhonie police arrested a seven-member gang for allegedly trying to rob shoppers at crowded places during festivals.

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The accused are residents of Kanpur. The police said the men travelled across the country and specifically targeted shoppers during festivals.

“These men are professional pick-pockets,” said Anil Kumbhare, deputy commissioner of police (zone II).

The Pydhonie police had received a tip-off about the gang being present in Mumbai.

“After the Dongri scuffle that had instigated communal tension, we had deployed extra force on bandobast duty in all the sensitive areas across the city. We had increased security in Pydhonie for the Ramzan festival,” said Shamsherkhan Pathan, senior police inspector of Pydhonie police station.

The men were caught when they were allegedly trying to rob shoppers in the area.

The men have allegedly also robbed several people in Kashi and Ajmer. “After Ramzan, their plan was to steal during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in September and go to Delhi for the Dussehra festival. We will get in touch with the Kanpur and Ajmer police to gather more information,” said Pathan.

The police recovered choppers, knives, chilli powder, 18 mobile phones and Rs 21,000 from the accused. The men have been remanded to police custody till August 30.