New Delhi witnessed a swift crackdown by police on a notorious robbery syndicate operating in the bustling Karol Bagh area. In a remarkable operation completed within 48 hours, officers arrested four key members, including the mastermind, following a brazen daylight snatching incident.
The breakthrough came after a victim reported being assaulted and robbed near Ganga Ram Hospital crossing on February 16. The man, who had been shopping for clothes in Karol Bagh, was approached by a stranger attempting to strike up a conversation. Ignoring the approach, he soon noticed the individual tailing him with an accomplice. The duo spun a tale of stolen cash from their boss, flashing a bag with what appeared to be bundles of money to gain trust, claiming they needed help depositing it due to lacking a bank account.
Sensing danger, the victim quickened his pace toward the hospital’s red light junction, mistaking an ambulance for a police vehicle in his desperation for help. The robbers cornered him near a broken boundary wall in a secluded spot, shoved him into a jungle-like area, and launched a violent attack. One struck him repeatedly on the head with a brick before snatching his iPhone and fleeing. Police rushed to Ganga Ram City Hospital, registered a case at Karol Bagh station, and formed a dedicated team.
Leveraging over 200 CCTV cameras, the investigators meticulously tracked the suspects’ movements across 32 kilometers spanning Karol Bagh, Sonia Vihar, and Bawana. Footage revealed the gang using an Eco van for operations, with a third accomplice shadowing the primary attackers. Technical surveillance on the stolen phone’s SIM card provided crucial location patterns, leading to a raid in JJ Colony Bawana, though initial attempts missed the culprits.
Persistent intelligence gathering pinpointed the Eco van in Pitampura, where the gang plotted their next heist. A high-speed chase ensued near Delhi Cantt, culminating in the arrests of Aslam (34, mastermind), Ibrar alias Bhura (23), Suleman alias Babu (22), and Ashik Khan (27), all from JJ Colony. Interrogations exposed their modus operandi: fake cash bundles topped with real 500-rupee notes to lure victims into sharing money or making online payments, followed by robbery if resisted.
This gang targeted unsuspecting pedestrians with elaborate cons, escalating to violence when plans faltered. The arrests not only recovered the stolen phone but disrupted a series of similar crimes plaguing the capital. Delhi Police’s tech-driven approach underscores their commitment to public safety, sending a strong message to criminals lurking in crowded markets.