Gang of six busted by Nirmal Nagar police, for extorting, robbing people in the name of donations for orphans. More arrests likely
The Nirmal Nagar police busted a gang who allegedly extorted and robbed common men in the name of donations for orphans. Six youth were arrested by the police with more arrests on the cards.
According to Police sources, the six arrested accused were identified as Zorawar Lakhanpal (23), Gurudayal Lakhanpal (27), Sunny Batra (23), Happysingh Dikpal (31), Kapil Rathod (33) and Sukhwinder Potwa (29).
All the arrested accused were allegedly involved in the monetary activities since a few months and the arrests were made on Saturday when the complainant, identified as Kailas Ravariya (28), sought police help after suspecting the motives of the accused who had approached him to collect funds via a donation drive.
As per police reports, all the accused who are said to be residents of Yogiraj Ashram area of Kalina in Santacruz east, used to operate in tandem in a gang and would regularly target households and shop owners. Two men used to roam various areas that they targetted and would later forcefully ask for money, claiming the said funds would be used for the welfare of orphan children and also for their meals on a daily basis.
The accused used to target houses where the women used to be alone after their husbands have gone out for work. Considering such women to be soft targets, they would approach them and ask for money and other similar aid and would say that all the money was being used for donation and welfare of orphans and unprivileged kids.
To secure their confidence, they would later give a receipt to the donors and sometimes finding a perfect opportunity, would rob their mobile phones and gold chains and flee from the spot, sources said.
The same modus operandi was also used on shop owners with the complainant in the case, who is also is a shopkeeper, being accosted by two of the accused for donation. The duo forcefully asked for donation money despite being refused politely by the shopowner, sources added.
The ruffian attitude and rowdy behaviour of the duo made him highly suspicious. The receipt given to him also appeared fishy. The complainant later lodged a formal complaint and when the police probed the matter, they found that no such donations were made but the locals were simply being looted. The accused have many cases registered against them at different police stations of the city.
“We suspect more number of people to be involved and at present the case has been registered under Sections 384, 506 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code and all the accused have been sent to police custody,” sources further added.
Other police stations in western suburbs are looking to take custody of these arrested accused as many similar crimes of these types have taken place on many occasions. Dome cases registered against these people have remained undetected.