NEW DELHI
In an incident that has confirmed the activities of criminals on Metro trains and stations, an all-woman gang of thieves and pickpockets has been busted by police soon after they stole cash and ID papers from a resident of South Extension at the Raja Garden Metro station. At least three of the accused women, all residents of Anand Parbat jhuggies, were involved in similar thefts on trains, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Metro) G. Ram Gopal Naik. In the current incident, complainant S. Suresh said that on 30 July around 3:00 pm, when he boarded the train, a middle-aged lady came too close to him and touched his cloth bag, which contained his wallet, mobile phone, and other things. Soon he was surrounded by a gang of girl children.
Later, the entire gang pushed him in such a way that he had to deboard at Rajouri Garden Metro Station, but the gang did not deboard. After deboarding, when he checked his bag, he found his wallet containing Rs 10,000 missing, along with government identity proofs, an employee ID card, etc. An online E-FIR was filed by him at Raja Garden Metro Police Station.
Based on this FIR, a team of special staff, with the help of CCTV footage, was able to identify five suspected ladies who were apprehended at the Barakhamba Metro Station. The police recovered a cash amount of Rs 10,000 from their possession. All these accused ladies are unemployed and illiterate. They steal to earn their bread and butter. They target people in crowded places like interchange Metro stations, busy markets, bus stands, train stations, etc. Previously, they had cases of theft in the Delhi Metro. They kept an eye on the passengers on platforms and lifts, marked them, and then targeted them by diverting their attention.