LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) has busted an organised gang involved in a series of armed robberies targeting cash couriers working for Gujarat-based traders dealing in spices and agricultural products. Six members of the gang, including its alleged mastermind Dinesh Chandra Yadav alias Chhotu, have been arrested, with the STF recovering Rs 48.45 lakh in cash allegedly looted in previous robberies.The STF also seized an illegal pistol, two cartridges, a Maruti Baleno car allegedly used in executing the robberies and a motorcycle used by the gang members to conduct reconnaissance of their targets.According to STF officials, the gang specifically targeted businessmen and their cash carriers who travelled between Gujarat and Lucknow to facilitate large cash transactions related to the spice and agricultural commodities trade.The gang members systematically monitored their movements, collected information about their travel schedules, vehicles and cash holdings, and subsequently intercepted them at isolated locations to execute robberies.
Modus operandi: Car used to knock down victims, followed by armed assault
Additional Superintendent of Police (STF) Deepak Kumar Singh said the gang followed a well-planned modus operandi, with different members assigned specific responsibilities.The accused would first identify cash carriers and monitor their movements. Once a target left his location on a scooter, a gang member following him on a motorcycle would alert the others about his movements.Another accused, driving a car, would deliberately ram the vehicle into the victim’s scooter, causing the cash carrier to fall on the road. The remaining gang members would then assault the victim with iron rods and sticks before snatching the bag containing cash.The gang leader, Dinesh Chandra Yadav, allegedly brandished a pistol and threatened to shoot the victims if they resisted. The gang would then escape with the money in the car.The STF said the accused had carefully selected their targets and locations to minimise the possibility of immediate police intervention.
Six arrested near Sahara Bridge in Gomti Nagar
The STF arrested all six accused on the night of November 8 from near the gate of a cricket academy beneath Sahara Bridge in the Gomti Nagar area of Lucknow.Those arrested have been identified as Dinesh Chandra Yadav, Saurabh Yadav, Aman alias Raman Yadav, Saurabh Dixit, Mohit Kanujia and Gyan Singh.Five of the arrested accused are residents of Lucknow, while Gyan Singh originally belongs to Begusarai district in Bihar.During interrogation, the STF uncovered the gang’s network, including the involvement of an alleged informer who supplied crucial information about the movement of businessmen carrying large amounts of cash.
Insider among traders provided information about cash movements
Investigations revealed that a man identified as Amrit Lal Pal allegedly acted as an informer for the gang.He was reportedly in contact with businessmen engaged in transporting cash between Gujarat and Lucknow and had access to information regarding their movements, destinations, travel schedules and vehicles.He allegedly passed on this information to the gang members in exchange for a commission.According to the STF, Pal had assured the gang that the businessmen were unlikely to approach the police after being robbed because of the large cash transactions involved in their business.This arrangement enabled the gang to identify potential targets well in advance and plan its operations accordingly.The STF also found that Mohit Kanujia was primarily responsible for conducting reconnaissance. He allegedly kept watch on the business premises and locations frequented by the traders, particularly in the vicinity of the area behind Jaipuria School.He would reportedly use a motorcycle without a registration number to monitor the movements of cash carriers. Whenever a trader or his employee left on a scooter carrying cash, Kanujia would immediately alert the other gang members over the phone.Following the alert, Saurabh Yadav would allegedly intercept the victim using a car, while Dinesh Yadav and the other accused would carry out the assault and robbery.
Four major robberies reported between Vibhuti Khand and Ashiyana
According to the STF, during interrogation, the arrested accused confessed to their alleged involvement in four major robbery incidents in different parts of Lucknow.The incidents were carried out between May and October this year, with the gang targeting businessmen carrying cash for commercial transactions.
May 2: Rs 22 lakh looted near Vibhuti Khand vegetable market
The first major incident took place on May 2 near the Vibhuti Khand vegetable market, where the accused allegedly robbed Bhavik Parmar and his associate of Rs 22 lakh.The two businessmen were carrying cash for their spice and agricultural products business when they were intercepted by the gang and robbed.
July 3: Rs 45 lakh looted in Virat Khand
In another major robbery on July 3, the gang allegedly looted Rs 45 lakh from Mitesh Patel and his associate in Virat Khand.The accused had reportedly been tracking their movements before executing the robbery. They allegedly rammed a white car into the victims’ scooter, knocking them to the ground.The gang members subsequently threatened them at gunpoint and escaped with the bag containing the cash.
September 3: Cash carrier targeted near Mayo Hospital
The third incident occurred on September 3 near Mayo Hospital, where the gang allegedly targeted another cash carrier.The STF said the accused had been monitoring the movements of their targets and used a similar strategy to execute the robbery.
October 24: Gujarat trader’s car targeted in Ashiyana
The fourth robbery took place on October 24 in Sector G of Ashiyana, where the accused allegedly stole a bag containing cash from the boot of a Creta car belonging to a Gujarat-based businessman.When the victim resisted, the accused allegedly assaulted him and threatened him with weapons before fleeing with the cash.
Four to five robbery attempts foiled due to police presence and crowds
Apart from the four successful robberies, the gang members allegedly attempted to target cash carriers at several other locations in Lucknow.The STF said the accused had made around four to five attempts to execute robberies near Dayal Chauraha, Gwari Chauraha and Shankar Chauraha.However, these attempts remained unsuccessful because of police patrolling and the presence of crowds at the intersections, forcing the gang members to abandon their plans.
Robbery proceeds used to purchase Baleno car
Investigators also found that the Baleno car allegedly used in the robberies had been purchased using money obtained from previous criminal activities.The Rs 48.45 lakh recovered from the accused represents the remaining amount of cash allegedly looted during earlier incidents, the STF said.The arrests have provided investigators with crucial leads into the gang’s operations, its network of informers and the manner in which it identified and tracked businessmen transporting cash.All six accused have been handed over to the Gomti Nagar police and formally taken into custody in connection with a case already registered at the police station. The local police are proceeding with further legal formalities and investigation to establish the complete extent of the gang’s involvement in the robberies.The STF is also examining the role of the alleged informer, Amrit Lal Pal, and the wider network that may have facilitated the gang’s access to confidential information about cash movements between Gujarat and Lucknow.
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