HYDERABAD: With not enough clues about the whereabouts of the members of the Chaddi gang, who created panic in the city in recent times, a team of at least 30 police personnel from Rachakonda police commissionerate have been to Dahod in Gujarat to catch the notorious burglars. Four days ago, a group of five men in their undergarments were seen at Sangareddy, about 65 km away from here.
Except in videos, the gang members are rarely seen by the public. Even if they are seen and attempts are made to catch them, they resort to violent attacks by hurling stones and beating with sticks which they pick up near their ‘potential target houses’. I December last they were seen first at Bachupally.
Their movements were later captured on CCTV cameras in various residential colonies in Kukatpally and Miyapur, and later in Ghatkesar, Medchal and Patancheru. Their first successful burglary was at Bloomingdale Apartments in Meerpet in which eight members took part. Also called ‘Khanbadhosh’, the nomadic gang was rarely caught by the police. One member of such gang was caught by the Shankarpally police about two years ago but no substantial information could be extracted from him about the other members of the gang or their ‘operating style’.
From the CCTV footage recovered recently at Bachupally, where two persons in their undergarments were seen running away from an apartment on seeing the CCTV cameras, the Cyberabad police said that the duo were imposters.
“The suspects seen at Bachupally could not be linked to the Chaddi gang and they were imposters. The Chaddi gang always carries stones or sticks with them for use if they sense the threat of being caught. But the burglary attempts made earlier this year involved the original Chaddi gang,” a senior police official of Cyberabad said
The special team of Rachakonda police commissionerate has been working for the last five months to nab the gang. At least 30 policemen have been to Gujarat in the last week after receiving inputs about the gang members involved in the burglary at Meerpet.
Confirming the reports of hunt for the gang, Rachakonda police commissioner Mahesh Bhagwat said that a special team went to Gujarat.
MASTER PLAN
They target houses which do not have central locking system but have only latches on doors for padlocks.
They make weird sounds and, if inmates open the door, then surprise them with an attack.
They carry sticks and stones collected from near the targeted houses.
They apply lubricants on their bodies.
They wrap a towel around their hip.