The CIA staff of Mohali Police has claimed to have busted a six-member gang allegedly involved in night-time lootings, snatching, and blackmailing along district’s main roads and Airport Road. Five members, including a woman, have been arrested, and four expensive mobile phones along with a fake press mic were seized.
According to Inspector Harminder Singh under whom the operation took place, on June 22, CIA ASI Karnveer Singh received a tip near Indian Oil pump on Aerocity Road, leading to the arrest of Deepak Kumar (from Panchkula), Harjinder Singh, alias Laddi (Chhat), Irbanpreet Singh, alias Pinky (Zirakpur), and Sandeep Kaur, alias Mahi (Ferozepur). Another accused, Upender Panwar alias Lucky (Saharanpur, UP), was arrested later. One accused, Sunny Sachdeva, is absconding.
Sharing details about the modus operandi of the gang, police said Kaur would pretend to ask for help or lift from lone drivers at night. After boarding their vehicle, she would direct them to an isolated location. Her male associates would arrive at the location, record videos, and extort money and valuables by threatening to leak the footage online. Two accused impersonated press reporters to add pressure on the victims, police claimed.
Over 20 cases of loot, snatching, and blackmailing have been confessed by the gang, mainly in IT City and Zirakpur areas. An FIR under multiple Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections, has been registered.
Several of the accused have past criminal records including murder, arms act, and extortion. Currently, two accused are in police remand while three others are in judicial custody
