Three arrested as police bust inter-state robbery gang in Jharkhand's West Singhbhum

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Three persons were arrested as an inter-state robbery gang was busted in Jharkhand's West Singhbhum district, police said on Sunday. The gang was allegedly involved in robberies in Jharkhand and Odisha, they said.

Acting on a tip-off, two members of the gang were arrested from the Jagannathpur police station area on Saturday, Superintendent of Police Ashutosh Shekhar said. They were arrested based on the inputs given by another member of the gang who was held in a murder case in Seraikela-Kharswan district a few days back, he said.

The gang was involved in three robbery cases in Seraikela-Kharswan and West Singhbhum districts of Jharkhand, and five such incidents in various parts of Odisha, he added. Three country-made pistols, five live cartridges, five sickles, two motorcycles bought with the robbed money and mobile phones were seized from them, Shekhar said.

Raids were underway to nab other members of the gang, he said.

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On August 18, the Mumbai Crime Branch dismantled an interstate drug syndicate involved in the illicit trade of narcotics. The operation has led to the arrest of nine individuals, including a female suspect. The seized contraband, valued at Rs 1.19 crore, encompasses a cache of drugs, cash, and vehicles, accentuating the extent of the criminal enterprise.

Three of the apprehended suspects were already on police records, prompting ongoing surveillance efforts. Unit 06 of the Mumbai Crime Branch executed the operation, confiscating drugs valued at Rs 71.39 lakh, along with cash amounting to Rs 17.89 lakh. Additionally, three vehicles with a combined value of Rs 26.60 lakh were confiscated in a resolute move against the drug trade.

The suspects, hailing from different corners of the region, were apprehended while transporting drugs from Nagpur to Mumbai in two vehicles. Notably, the syndicate's ringleader, 27-year-old Sarfaraz Shabir Ali, known by the alias "Golden Bhura," was arrested during the operation. Golden Bhura, harboring aspirations reminiscent of the infamous Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar, had even been generating videos to further his ambitions.

Among the detained individuals is 24-year-old Sana Khan, alias Priyanka Ashok Karkaur, who was apprehended as a member of the gang. Investigations revealed Sana's connection to Golden Bhura, and two Aadhaar cards bearing her name were recovered. Hailing from Rajasthan, Sana was discovered to be the girlfriend of the gang's mastermind.

The remaining members of the syndicate are Sahil Khan (27), Mohd Ajmal Shaikh (45), Shamshuddin Shah (22), Imran Pathan (37), Tausif Mantri (27), Ismail Siddiqui (27), and Raees Qureshi. A history of criminal cases resides against Khan and Shaikh, scattered across multiple police stations in Mumbai.

The syndicate's modus operandi entailed procuring drugs from neighboring states and subsequently distributing them across various suburbs of Mumbai. Notably, a sum of Rs 17.89 lakh in cash was seized from the suspects, marking proceeds from their drug dealings. The investigation further yielded the recovery of 350 grams of MD drugs and 45 grams of charas from the apprehended individuals.

"This elusive gang had evaded the authorities by avoiding joint appearances. A month-long surveillance operation culminated in a meticulously planned apprehension at Mulund Check naka, based on a tip about drug transportation. The syndicate's illicit activities encompassed the distribution of drugs in Mumbai's suburbs, tarnishing the city's safety and well-being," said Raj Tilak Roushan, DCP Crime Branch.