Hyderabad: Police arrested a five-member gang and two minor boys involved in highway dacoity. They also seized weapons from them. Police said the suspects hail from the Shikari and Pardhi communities of Maharashtra.
The arrested persons are Neelshikari Sharukh Khan, 20, Syed Shaikshawali , 34, Chakali Vishnu, 28, Shikari Ashok, 30, and Shikari Kemiti, 25 and two boys. Another five-member gang is absconding.
DCP P. Yadagiri said the gangs operated late at nights on highways connecting Hyderabad. Their main targets were vehicles on the Hyderabad-Karimnagar, Hyderabad-Kurnool and Hyderabad-Vijayawada highways.
Police said the gang puts up huts near highways. At night while the men hide behind trees the women carrying torches come on to the road and stop vehicles seeking lifts. If any vehicle stops their husbands rob the occupants. “Another group target parked vehicles and attack drivers who are asleep. If anyone resists they threaten to kill them,” the DCP said. On June 4, two dacoities were registered in Yadadri district. Early on Sunday SOT teams found a vehicle moving suspiciously in Choutuppal. Police found knives, daggers, axes etc in the vehicle.
The occupants admitted dacoities along with another gang. “The gang is accused in eight cases in AP and TS and were arrested twice in Kurnool and Gadwala,” the DCP said.
After coming out on bail they continue their profession," the DCP added. The arrested people were remanded.
