New Delhi: An alleged member of a gang targeting passengers on board long distance trains has been caught and stolen jewelleries worth about Rs 60 lakh was recovered from him, police said today.
The accused was caught in connection with a theft from a passenger travelling on the Ala Hazarat Express, at Old Delhi Railway station, on February 13, said Parwaiz Ahmad, DCP (Railways).
Rajender, 35, was caught on a tip off, by a joint team of the New Delhi and Old Delhi railway police, from a park opposite to the Jalebi Chowk in Sutlanpuri, yesterday, he said.
A complaint was filed by a Kolkata resident Mridul Kotrilwal that jewellery including diamonds and ruby worth Rs 60 lakh and cash Rs 90,000 was stolen from his luggage while he was deboarding the Ala Hazarat Express at the Old Delhi railway station on February 13.
He said in his complaint that a man befriended him and his family, and later suggested them to move their luggage at the door of the AC-II coach so that they could easily get off the train.
As the station approached some more men gathered at the coach door and attention of the family was diverted.
On reaching home they found, the jewellery and cash was missing from a bag that was slashed although its lock was intact.
The entire set of stolen jewellery was recovered which is the biggest seizure so far by the Railway Police. Efforts are being made to arrest the remaining members of the gang, the officer said.
The accused told the police during interrogation that the gang members targeted rich families travelling in air-conditioned coaches of long distance trains and befriended them. Some members diverted attention of the passengers and others stole valuables from their luggage, added the officer.
PTI