NEW DELHI, APRIL 6: On April 3, Vinod Kumar was waiting for his train on Platform 10 at the New Delhi Railway Station when he met Alam Khan. The two got chatting and Khan offered Kumar some biscuits. Kumar almost bit into the biscuit, when he realised that there was something fishy about them. He was right. The biscuits had been laced with a drug that would have knocked out Kumar and helped his `Samaritan' Khan disappear with his baggage. Kumar was lucky because Khan was arrested on the spot. There are many others who lose all their belonging to these `drug-and-rob' gangs.So far this year, 23 such cases have already been reported. Seventeen people have been arrested in connection with the eight cases worked out till date. In comparison, last year saw fewer cases. In 1997, 32 cases of drugging and robbing were reported. Of these, only 22 were solved.On February 27, a gang of six was arrested for drugging and robbing passengers at the New Delhi Railway Station. Six cases were registered against them underSection 411 (dishonestly receiving stolen property) of the Indian Penal Code. But according to their confession, they were reportedly involved in around 30 cases.The number of these gangs operating at railway stations has only gone up. Police officials admit that for every one person or gang they apprehend, there are at least two more operating. Keeping in mind this increase, the police have prepared a detailed report on how these gangs operate.The modus operandi of these gangs is simple and apparently very effective. Operating in groups of three or four, these people are generally from Haryana, Bihar or Uttar Pradesh. And accordingly, their victims are also primarily from these states. The groups arrive at the station an hour or so before the scheduled departure of a train. They scout the platform looking for their victims, who are usually from the lower strata of society. They strike up a conversation, discussing train schedules, life in their villages, their jobs. Having established themselves as a``well-wisher'' they move on to stage II of their operations.In most cases, they board the train and settle down on the berth next to the passengers. Or they choose a secluded spot on a platform to rob their victims. They talk to the people, giving other passengers the impression that they are all one big happy family. After a while, they bring out the eatables laced with drugs.Alok Kumar, additional DCP of railways, explains: ``The eatables are either cream biscuits, ladoos, fruit, juice or tea. The food is laced with ground Larpoz or Ativan tablets. The powder is mixed with the food or drink and offered to the passenger. Once consumed, it induces sleep''.To make the entire charade look authentic, the gang members mark the drug-laced biscuits and ladoos. Accordingly, when they offer the food, they also eat it, picking the ``normal'' biscuits or cup of tea.``Larpoz and Ativan are drugs that induce sleep,'' says Dr Anand Pandey of Deen Dayal Upadhyay hospital. ``They are generallyprescribed to people with anxiety or disturbed sleep patterns. Taken in small quantities they are not harmful''. But they give the robbers enough time to make good their escape. Kumar adds: ``When the drug starts taking effect, the gang members declare that their relative is not feeling well. They ask the other passengers to look after the patient while they get help at the next station. They get off with the bags and never come back''.
