Notorious gang behind 23 train theft cases caught

HYDERABAD: Notorious Haryana-based gang that targeted second AC train compartments and stole gold, cash and other valuables from passengers, was nabbed by the Secunderabad Railway Police on Tuesday. The gang has confessed to their involvement in 23 cases and stolen property worth a whopping `1.07 crore was recovered from their possession.

The gang, that targeted different trains under the limits of Secunderabad, Kacheguda, Nampally and Bengaluru stations, had hidden the stolen booty is pits dug in the ground. They mostly targeted night trains, like Bengaluru, Mumbai, Godavari and Simhapuri Express.  

They used to book tickets in second AC compartments in Tatkal mode and alight at any random station after making the hit.

Then, they would return to the city on the next available train, but only on a general ticket. They would secure a berth on their return journey by paying the difference amount or bribing the TTE to avoid having to show an identity proof.

“They had chosen three locations, in three different parts of the city to hide the booty -- one near railway tracks, one near a flyover and one on the Musi river bed. They had dug up pits there and hit valuables in them,” said a senior official.