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Desperadoes used to strike only on Tuesdays; farm houses were their favourite targets

For Hindus, Tuesday is the day of worship. But, for a bunch of robbers arrested by the Delhi Police on Saturday, work was worship.

In the net: The group of robbers arrested by the Delhi Police in on Saturday. The police recovered cash and belongings worth several lakh from their possession. PIC/MID DAY

The group of six used to religiously pursue their work on the day of Lord Hanuman. And it was working for them fine until they fell from the graces of the God.

And it was not just blind faith but the gang had a very meticulous approach to their work.

The gang was learning rope climbing to scale high walls of farm houses, which were their favourite targets.

"The gang planed their robberies to minute details," he added.

The police was on the tail of the gang since Tuesday when they robbed a German diplomat's farm house in Vasant Kunj of cash and belongings worth several lakh rupees. They were finally nabbed from the same area, acting on a tip-off.

The gang confessed to its faith in working only on Tuesdays.

The police have also recovered two pistols, ten cartridges and knives from them. Apart from the arms, the police also seized five monkey caps, ropes, torches,  pair of surgical gloves, one glass cutting instrument and house breaking devices from the gang.

Earlier on June 16, again a Tuesday, the gang had robbed a farm house in Chhatarpur near Mehrauli of cash and belongings worth Rs 35 lakh.

Identified as Paras, Baldev Raj alias Babloo, Rafiq, Sahabuddin, Mohammed Irfan and Munesh Kumar, the desperadoes invested the booty in a 50 square yard plot in Dadri, UP, in the name of Nizamuddin younger brother of Shahabuddin and a house in the name of Rafiq at Sangam Vihar. They spent Rs 1.5 lakh on renovating the house.

"They were involved in a number of major robberies and had collected enough money but it was their addiction to the crime and easy money that led them to go on before they were finally nabbed. They wore monkey caps to avoid being identified," said a senior police official.

Rs 3.5 lakh
The amount spent by the robbers to purchase a plot at Dadri in the name of Nizamuddin, younger brother of Sahabuddin.

MODUS OPERANDI
Each member of the gang had a fixed role to play in the heist. Mohammad Irfan, being the leader used to plan strategy and brief the members about the execution. He also took care of the firearms. Baldev Raj alias Balloo's identified the target, in most cases a farm house, and conduct the recce for entry, exit and escape points. His expertise as a rag picker who used to roam around was being put to use in this way.

On Balloo's feedback, Irfan decided whether it was feasible to commit the robbery or not. Shahabuddin being the strongest member used overpower the victims. Paras, who had a little knowledge of English, used to help in communicating with the high-profile targets. Other members of the gang were foot soldiers and were given roles like keeping a watch around the area while the plan was being executed.