Police track gang behaviour pattern

Milind Ballal / TNN / Jun 16, 2007, 03:29 IST

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The rapine and larceny rife across rural parts of Thane, in many ways parallels the series of murders and dacoities that rocked the Khalapur-Panvel belt in Raigad in 2004.

THANE: The rapine and larceny rife across rural parts of Thane, in many ways parallels the series of murders and dacoities that rocked the Khalapur-Panvel belt in Raigad in 2004.
The case was eventually solved with the arrest of a gang led by a man named Aaba Shinde, who is now serving a sentence in Osmanabad prison. Notably, it provided police with insight into the ways in which bands of unemployed, itinerant youths team up and prey on their victims.
According to investigators who have probed such incidents in the past, the most distinguishing feature in such incidents is the manner in which gangs carry out a recce before zeroing in on their target.Members are assigned duties to track entry and exit points, layouts, number of people in a household, their schedules, etc.
"They carry out a detailed survey of the area. Things like escape routes, vulnerability, etc are kept in mind. They check if the house marked for the assault has enough vacant land around for them to make their escape.

A nullah or gutter behind the house is preferred as the gang cannot be chased because of these obstacles," said an officer. A survey of adjoining lanes and bylanes is also carried out keeping emergencies in mind.
Raoming through the city during the day, the gangs are also known to spend time watching movies. The regularity with which they watch movies in theatres is indeed a peculiar characteristic of petty criminals. Towards the end of the day, they gather under bridges or near railway platforms where notes are exchanged over a meal or a cup of tea. And as night falls, liquor is arranged along with dinner which consists of plenty of meat or chicken.

By midnight when the city has retired, the gang begins moving towards a pre-decided location. As they are usually under the influence of liquor, they are ruthless while committing robberies. Anyone coming in their way ends up suffering serious injury.
"Normally they move in a group of eight to ten people. They wear trousers which are folded above the knees, giving an impression that they are wearing half pants. The shirt is tied around the waist in such a way that it enables them to carry stones which they use to defend in case of retaliation," said an officer.
Police officers, who have successfully detected crimes committed by such gangs in the past, said they prove to be tough nuts to crack even during interrogation.
They are known to endure third degree torture and have to be tackled in an unconventional manner by engaging them in conversation, said an officer. "It is a challenge to investigating officers as they seldom spill the beans or confess to the crime. That's because those who 'help' the police are boycotted by other members of the gang."

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