Seven arrested for dacoity in Bengal, adjoining states

A senior police officer said that a few days ago, some incidents of dacoity had taken place in different parts of the district. Subsequently, the police had initiated a probe and came to know that one of the members of the gang was from Nandigram.

Acting on a tip, police conducted a raid in the house of the accused and arrested him. During interrogation he revealed names and whereabouts of other members of his group.

Police got divided into different teams and conducted raids in the houses of all the accused at the same time. The remaining six accused including Badsha, Wahidul and Meraj were also arrested. There are some more members of the gang who are yet to get arrested.

Investigation revealed that the gang used to operate mainly in states including Jharkhand, Odisha and Bihar. One of the used to go to the districts for reccee before committing a crime and he used to explain the plan after returning to Nandigram to rest of the members. They had also plan of dacoity in certain banks in Nandigram.

The gang used to go the neighbouring day a day ahead of the operation and used to return the same day after committing a crime. Thus, it had become difficult for the police of the neighbouring states to identify the accused.

Recently, they committed a crime in a house in East Midnapore and it led to their arrest. Police recovered firearms form the accused.

Police suspect that the gang also had connection with the prime accused of the racket who was arrested in connection with dacoity in Bagdogra branch of a nationalised bank.

 The accused Chitna Hasan Khan alias Hasan Seikh was arrested from Sealdah station in May.

It may be recalled that a gang of dacoits had raided the bank and decamped with a huge cash and jewellery after damaging all valuables in the wee hours on May 5.