New Delhi, April 15 The Delhi Police Crime Branch's Anti-Extortion and Kidnapping Cell (AEKC) has carried out a high-risk interception operation and arrested six alleged Bangladeshi nationals linked to a dacoity gang after an exchange of fire, officials said on Wednesday.
According to police, the accused individuals had illegally entered India and were involved in a series of violent dacoities across multiple states. Their arrest is expected to crack several pending cases of robbery, dacoity, and murder reported from Delhi, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Goa and other regions.
Officials said the Crime Branch had been tracking the gang for an extended period, particularly after it targeted Delhi and later shifted its operations to other parts of the country.
Last year, the gang reportedly carried out two major dacoities in Goa, injuring victims and looting cash and jewellery worth lakhs of rupees. Similar incidents were reported in Karnataka.
Acting on sustained intelligence inputs and coordination with the Goa Police, the AEKC team launched a focused operation.
On the intervening night of April 14 and 15, a specific lead developed by Sub-Inspector Ashok Kumar indicated that the gang would assemble near the Sarai Kale Khan cremation ground to plan another dacoity in south Delhi.
Based on this input, a team led by ACP Pankaj Arora, under the supervision of DCP Sanjeev Kumar Yadav, laid a trap at the identified location. The team included multiple officers from the Crime Branch, who conducted a coordinated midnight operation.
Police said that upon being surrounded, the suspects refused to surrender and opened fire at the officers. In response, the police team exercised restraint while engaging in a controlled exchange of fire, returning three rounds against the shots fired by the gang.
Following the brief encounter, six suspects were apprehended. They were identified as Suman Hauldhar, 35, Saifful Islam, 31, Sohail Sheikh, 35, Md. Nasir, 48, Noor Islam, 56, and Zakir, 40, all stated to be residents of Bangladesh.
Police recovered four country-made pistols, live ammunition and specialised tools used for housebreaking from their possession. A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Arms Act at the Crime Branch police station.
Two other suspects, identified as Shakayat and Illiyas, managed to escape under the cover of darkness, and efforts are underway to trace them.
Investigators said the gang had been operating for several years using a "hit-run-hide" strategy, entering India through illegal channels, committing crimes and then fleeing back across the border.
They allegedly used masked identities, targeted isolated and affluent households, and often resorted to violence against victims who resisted.
Police further revealed that the gang maintained a network of local contacts and relatives in India who helped identify potential targets and provided logistical support, including weapons.
The accused are also believed to have relied on human smugglers to facilitate cross-border movement and avoided using mobile phones to evade surveillance.
Officials stated that the gang is wanted in multiple cases across several states, and non-bailable warrants had already been issued against some of the accused in earlier cases in Delhi.
The investigation is ongoing, and police are working to uncover the full extent of the network and trace remaining members involved in the criminal operations.
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