Gang of robbers posing as trans persons busted

Indore: Dewas police busted a gang of robbers, who posed themselves as transgender persons to rob people at knifepoint. Six gang members were rounded up, the police said, adding that they also recovered stolen gold ornaments, while also seizing sharp-edged weapons along with two cars used in their crimes.The arrests followed a joint investigation by Khategaon and Kannod police into a robbery reported from Khategaon. According to the police, the gang targeted unsuspecting victims, posing as trans persons to gain their trust before threatening them with knives and fleeing with their valuables.In the latest incident, 27-year-old Kuldeep Jat, a resident of Barbaikheda village, lodged a complaint stating that on June 19, three unidentified men, two of whom were dressed as trans persons, arrived at his house in a hatchback and robbed him of gold ornaments worth around Rs 1.5 lakh at knifepoint.Police said the victim did not immediately report the incident as the gang had threatened physical harm. He approached the police only after learning about the arrest of some suspects in another case.The breakthrough came on July 2, when Kannod police, acting on a tip-off, detained five men who were allegedly planning a robbery near the Nanasa service road on the Indore-Betul highway. They were found carrying weapons and travelling in a car.

During the subsequent probe, the police linked the suspects to the Khategaon robbery.Based on technical evidence, CCTV footage and intelligence inputs, police later arrested the alleged kingpin, Sonu alias Sunil Nath of Ratlam district, from the Sandalpur area. During interrogation, he allegedly confessed to committing the robbery along with five accomplices, whom he identified as Bhairunath, Jeevan, Lakhan, Kailash and Arjun.Based on leads obtained from the arrested kingpin, the sleuths recovered and impounded the vehicle used in the robbery.It was found that the remaining five accused were already lodged in Kannod sub-jail in connection with a robbery plot.After obtaining production warrants from the court, the investigators formally arrested them in the robbery case. The accused, the police said, confessed to the crime, leading to the recovery of two gold chains, a pair of gold earrings, two cars and two sharp-edged weapons.Police said further investigation was underway to ascertain whether the gang was involved in similar crimes elsewhere.