Gang of bag-snatchers busted in Rajkot, five arrested

Rajkot: A five-member gang of thieves was busted at Greenland Chowkadi in Rajkot on Wednesday.

Police said the accused, identified as Amit Bhatu (32), Shravankumar Bhatu (42), Akhilesh Bhatu (37), Jitendra Bhatu (26) and Rajeshwerprasad Bhatu (40), used to target women and elderly persons who came out of banks after withdrawing cash.

“The accused used to conduct recce of different banks to zero in on the targets. When their target was fixed, they would call up the other members of the gang who would follow the target on their bikes. They used to wear helmets to hide their identities and snatch the cash from their victims,” said H M Gadhvi, inspector with Rajkot crime branch.

The accused confessed to having committed 23 robberies in Rajkot, Jamnagar, Porbandar, Morbi, Chotila, Vadodara, Godhra, Maharashtra and Punjab.

“We have recovered Rs one lakh cash, two bikes, three cellphones and two helmets from the accused,” added Gadhvi.