Ranchi-based gang targets train passengers of AC compartments
Mail News Service
Jamshedpur, March 22: Rail police busted an inter-state gang of train thieves by arresting two of its members and recovering a whopping Rs 2.23 crore in cash from their possession.
Those arrested were identified as the brothers of one Rajan Srivastava, who is the kingpin of the gang and a resident of Ranchi, police said.
According to Rail Protection Force officials, the accused persons had stolen cash worth Rs 3.14 crore from the AC compartment of Howrah-Porbandar Aradhana Superfast Express train near Rourkela station on 29th January last. The accused persons had stolen two trolley bags. An FIR was registered in this connection with the GRP in Ahmedabad. The culprits had also stolen gold jewelery. Later, cops began investigation into the grand theft and identified the suspects on the basis of reservation charts and CCTV footage.
Cops said they had also recovered 17 second AC train tickets from the possession of the accused persons who targeted fellow passengers while traveling under fake names. The accused persons used to steal cash and valuables from train compartments and disembark from trains soon after committing the crime. The gang mostly operated under Chakradharpur rail division. On 21st March last, three of the gang members were again seen on platform number 2 and 3. When interrogated, the three confessed their crime. Cops arrested them with Rs 2.23 crore, cops said.