Jaipur: GRP Bikaner Wednesday arrested four members of an interstate gang in connection with the Sept 11 heist aboard Anuvrat Express in which 65-70 tolas of gold jewellery, silver ornaments and Rs 7-8 lakh were allegedly stolen from a family travelling from Nagpur to Nokha.SHO of GRP Bikaner, Neha Rajpurohit, said the gang targeted long-distance trains and struck when passengers moved their luggage towards the coach doors before getting off. Some members allegedly offered to help carry the bags while their accomplices opened the luggage using master keys, screwdrivers, surgical blades and pointed pliers.The family had kept two trolley bags and other luggage under their seats in coach B-1.The accused have been identified as Virendra Kumar, Surendra Kumar, Sunil Kumar and Ranveer. Police also seized a Bolero allegedly used by the gang to escape after the theft. The four are on police remand till Sept 24.Police said the gang used another method when passengers had already moved their luggage towards the doors. Some members would stand around the bags and pretend they were also getting off at the same station, forming a circle around the luggage. Others allegedly opened the bags and removed valuables without attracting attention.The accused would then allegedly get off at the next station and flee in the Bolero, which travelled alongside the train. Police said they were careful to close the bags after opening them so passengers did not immediately realise they had been tampered with.The theft came to light after a complaint was lodged with GRP Bikaner on Sept 14. Investigators examined the train’s reservation chart, technical data and records of criminals involved in similar thefts besides intensifying surveillance on trains.Police said questioning of the four accused led to the alleged gang’s modus operandi and their purported involvement in the latest theft. They are being questioned about other train thefts, while efforts are on to recover the remaining valuables and arrest the other members.
