Varda police in Rajasthan's Dungarpur district have dismantled a criminal gang that targeted late-night commuters and pedestrians by offering them rides in an Eco van and robbing them at knifepoint. A dedicated police team successfully apprehended five suspects connected to the robberies. Law enforcement authorities recovered the Eco vehicle used in the crimes, along with a knife used to threaten victims, three mobile phones, and 58,000 rupees in cash. The gang specifically stalked passengers waiting outside bus terminals late at night, ferrying them to desolate locations where they assaulted them and snatched their phones, wallets, cash, and ATM cards under threat of violence.
Modus Operandi: Trapping Commuters and Striking in Desolate Spots
Station House Officer Devendra Singh Rao explained that the suspects operated with a coordinated strategy focused on vulnerable travelers. Late at night, when public transit options dwindled, the gang pulled up outside bus stands where passengers were stranded waiting for vehicles. Offering to transport them, the gang convinced the travelers to step inside the Eco van. Once inside, the driver diverted the vehicle away from main roads into dark, isolated areas. The criminals then physically assaulted the unsuspecting victims, brandished a knife, and forcefully stripped them of their mobile phones, wallets, cash, and ATM cards. The sudden ambush in deserted stretches left the victims completely unable to defend themselves or call for emergency assistance.
Special Police Team Formed After Two Back-to-Back Incidents
The crackdown gained momentum after two similar robbery incidents were reported within the jurisdiction of the Varda police station on September 2 and October 3. In both instances, victims were systematically stripped of their personal phones, wallets, and cash reserves. Recognizing the threat posed to highway safety, authorities registered two separate criminal cases at the Varda police station. Station House Officer Devendra Singh Rao formed a specialized police squad to track down the culprits. The investigation team conducted thorough inspections of the crime scenes, analyzed technical evidence, reviewed CCTV footage across multiple routes, and mobilized confidential informants. Focused search operations across surrounding pockets eventually led officers to identify the syndicate and take all five suspects into custody.
Stolen Cash Spent on Revelry and Liquor Parties
During initial interrogations, investigators uncovered that the suspects carried out the dangerous robberies primarily to finance their leisure pursuits and frequent alcohol parties. Rather than facing financial distress, the group treated violent street robberies as a quick method to fund lavish spending. The seized haul of 58,000 rupees in cash represents proceeds from these crimes, which the suspects were gradually spending. In addition to the cash, the officers seized the three snatched handsets, the knife used during the hold-ups, and the vehicle deployed for abductions.
Gang Confesses to Multiple Highway Robberies Across the District
Station House Officer Devendra Singh Rao noted that sustained interrogation revealed a wider pattern of criminality extending beyond the two initial FIRs. The suspects admitted to orchestrating similar robberies across various parts of the district, specifically naming locations including Ransagar, Teejwad, and Khemaru Road. Police custody has been utilized to interrogate the five accused in detail regarding each incident. The ongoing investigation aims to document the total number of travelers targeted by the gang and determine whether additional accomplices or receivers of stolen goods were operating as part of their network.
