Five inter-state robbers arrested,weapons seized

Police said the gang was involved in more than 35 cases of robbery and theft. They were arrested after police were informed that they would be coming to Bhairon Mandir in Pragati Maidan. The gang members have been identified as Babu Khan (38),Ayaj alias Guddu (30),Basir (21),Tehjib Aalam alias Farsad (31) and Navasis alias Nawaja (21).

“Khan had started committing crimes in Bareilly,Uttar Pradesh,in 1995. He then formed a gang and started committing thefts in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. In 2000,he and his associates robbed the manager of a petrol pump of Rs 4.5 lakh in Welcome. After being released on bail,he did not report to court. In 2004,he was declared a proclaimed offender,and has been absconding ever since,” said DCP (Crime) Ashok Chand.

To evade arrest,Khan shifted his base to Karnataka,where his gang became involved in 13 criminal cases. “They burgled two branches of Krishi Sahkari Bank in Karnataka. Subsequently,the Karnataka Police declared a Rs 25,000 reward for information leading to Khan’s arrest,” Chand added.

Khan and his aides then shifted to Madhya Pradesh and looted a petrol pump at gunpoint. When the police in that state started pursuing them,the gang moved to Uttar Pradesh.