In a significant breakthrough, the Delhi Police Crime Branch has apprehended a key strategist of an interstate criminal gang responsible for a series of high-value thefts targeting sleeping bus passengers across South India. The arrest sheds light on a meticulously planned operation that netted valuables worth lakhs of rupees.
The Mastermind Behind the Interstate Thefts
Mohammad Farman (41), a resident of Amroha district in Uttar Pradesh, was identified as a core planner of the gang. His arrest on Saturday followed a coordinated operation between the Delhi and Karnataka Police. Farman was wanted in a case registered at the Kundapura police station in Karnataka under Section 305 (theft) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for a major theft aboard a bus.
According to police, the gang's modus operandi was highly systematic. Members would board buses posing as regular passengers or sometimes even as bus staff to avoid raising suspicion. They conducted detailed reconnaissance, observing passenger behaviour, luggage placement, staff shift changes, and security loopholes before striking.
Modus Operandi: Striking During the 'Sleep Window'
The thefts were strategically executed during the early hours of the morning, typically between 3 am and 5 am, when most passengers were in deep sleep and vigilance was at its lowest. This window allowed the gang to stealthily steal valuables, including a significant haul of 10 kg of silver and approximately Rs 3 lakh in cash from one incident alone, with total loot valued at over Rs 10 lakh.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Harsh Indora stated that Farman was a principal strategist. "During sustained questioning, the accused revealed he was a core member of an organised interstate criminal network involved in multiple cases of bus thefts and dacoities across Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka," said the DCP. He described the gang's operations as characterised by systematic reconnaissance, deceptive methods, and rapid mobility.
The Arrest and Criminal History
The arrest was triggered by a formal request from the Karnataka Police Crime Branch, which had been tracking Farman after he went underground. Acting on a specific tip-off that Farman would be passing through a National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) toll plaza in Gurgaon, a raiding team laid a trap on Friday. After discreet surveillance and identity confirmation, he was apprehended without resistance and handed over for legal proceedings.
Police records paint Farman as a habitual offender with a criminal history spanning multiple states. In 2022, he was previously arrested by the Bengaluru Police in a case related to preparation for dacoity. Officials have labelled him a "habitual and desperate offender" involved in serious crimes over the years.
Further investigations are now focused on tracing the remaining members of the interstate gang, establishing their involvement in other similar cases, and recovering the stolen property. This arrest marks a crucial step in dismantling a network that preyed on the vulnerability of long-distance travellers.
