Hyderabad: A member of the notorious Pardhi gang, which robbed railway passengers after bringing trains to a halt by tampering with signal systems, was arrested by the Secunderabad Government Railway Police (GRP) on Tuesday.
In September last year, passengers of Yeswantapur Express and Jabalpur Express trains were robbed at Kaukuntla and Divitipally, respectively. After forcing the trains to a sudden stop, the gangs pelted stones at the trains and took away about 37.5 tolas of gold and cash from the passengers after threatening them.
The GRP which began investigations found it to be the handiwork of the Pardhi gang of Maharashtra. “The gang members conduct recce at the place from where they could to tamper the signals. After tracking the running status online, they would communicate the status to the gang members. After forming a human ladder, they rob valuables from the passengers,” said GRP officials.
The gang comprises nine persons, six of whom have already been arrested by Secunderabad GRP, while Pune GRP nabbed one.
The accused Balaji Shrirang Shinde, 25, was involved in similar offences in 2016 at Lonavla in Maharashtra and Gutti in AP and a robbery at Jamkhed in 2017. Police recovered two ear tops weighing about one tola from Shinde. The police said that the ninth member Dada Shinde of Jamkhed is still at large and efforts are on to nab him.
