Palanpur: The Banaskantha Local Crime Branch (LCB) arrested three members of the notorious ‘Shaitan Gang’, including its mastermind, for a series of burglaries at six angadia firms in Palanpur.Police said the gang members are involved in at least 40 cases of robbery, dacoity and housebreaking across Gujarat, Rajasthan and Maharashtra.Investigation began on June 26 when the gang broke the shutters of six angadia firms in Palanpur, and escaped with Rs 3.95 lakh in cash. A case was registered at Palanpur East police station.LCB teams analysed footage from over 200 CCTV cameras and tracked the suspects using technical surveillance and human intelligence to Mumbai’s Kamathipura area and arrested Shaitansinh Rajput, the gang leader, Dilipgiri Goswami, and Bharatkumar Rajpurohit, all natives of Rajasthan.“During interrogation, the trio confessed to carrying out the Palanpur burglaries and admitted to targeting angadia firms, jewellery shops and commercial establishments in several states,” said DM Rathod, inspector, LCB.Police recovered Rs 1.10 lakh in cash, the motorcycle used in the crime, burglary tools including an iron cutter and screwdriver, and mobile phones, with the total value of seized property estimated at Rs 2.32 lakh. Investigators said the gang typically conducted reconnaissance during the day, struck at night using two-wheelers, and fled 500-600 km to another state to evade arrest.Police records show the three accused have an extensive criminal history, with dozens of cases of burglary, robbery and dacoity registered against them in Gujarat, Rajasthan and Maharashtra..
