Udaipur: Udaipur police Wednesday arrested three members of an interstate burglary gang, including its alleged kingpin, and recovered jewellery worth about Rs 60 lakh stolen from Naveen Jewellers in Panchwati.The gold, silver and diamond jewellery was recovered from deep pits dug in fields in Chambal ravines following information provided by the accused. Police are searching for other gang members and the remaining valuables.Thieves had uprooted a side shutter and broken a glass door to enter the showroom on July 29 night. They allegedly stole diamonds worth about Rs 22 lakh, 390gm gold ornaments, 12kg silver ornaments and utensils, and Rs 9.75 lakh in cash. The total loss was estimated at about Rs 1 crore.Police identified the alleged kingpin as Anand alias Kukdiya Verma (26), a resident of Pura Nattha Jhoria in Agra district. Dhanpal alias Dhandhu Verma (24), from the same village, and Guddu Rathore (27), of Nagla Mukta in Agra district, were also arrested.Police said the gang avoided mobile phones, paid fares in cash and repeatedly changed trains and buses to leave no digital trail. Investigators examined footage from about 200 CCTV cameras across Udaipur, Kota, Baran, Dholpur, Gwalior and Agra before locating the gang’s hideout.Five suspects were seen conducting reconnaissance of the showroom. Their movements were traced from Udaipur railway station towards Chittorgarh, Kota and Dholpur, leading police to a gang operating in Chambal ravines under Pinahat and Shamshabad police station areas in Agra.Police said Manoj alias Doctor Verma and Anand had arrived in Udaipur about two months before the burglary on the pretext of seeking labour work. They allegedly surveyed the showroom and gathered information for the crime.Dhanpal has three previous cases against him, while Anand faces two theft and burglary cases. Police are questioning the accused and searching for absconding members, including Manoj.
