In a major crackdown, Delhi Police have arrested six Bangladeshi nationals involved in a series of violent robberies and murders across multiple Indian states. The arrests were made after a late-night encounter near Sarai Kale Khan in the national capital.
The operation was carried out by the Anti-Extortion and Kidnapping Cell of the Crime Branch during the intervening night of April 14 and 15, following specific intelligence inputs about the gang’s movement.
Encounter near Sarai Kale Khan
According to police officials, the accused had recently entered India illegally through the Indo-Bangladesh border and were planning another robbery in South Delhi. Acting swiftly, a police team laid a trap near a forested stretch close to the Sarai Kale Khan cremation ground.
When the police attempted to apprehend them, the gang opened fire. The police team responded and successfully overpowered six members of the group. Two others managed to escape under the cover of darkness and are currently being tracked.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Suman Hauldhar alias Pannu, Saifful Islam, Sohail Sheikh, Mohammad Nasir, Noor Islam alias Nadim Khan, and Zakir. All are residents of Bagerhat district in Bangladesh.
Weapons and modus operandi
During the operation, police recovered four country-made pistols, live cartridges, spent shells, and burglary tools used for breaking into houses.
Investigators revealed that the gang followed a “hit-and-run” strategy. They would illegally infiltrate India, carry out violent dacoities, and quickly return to Bangladesh to evade arrest. After remaining inactive for some time, they would re-enter India and target new locations.
The gang primarily targeted affluent households, especially those with elderly residents living alone. To avoid detection, they refrained from using mobile phones and relied on human networks and cross-border facilitators.
Crimes across multiple states
Police have linked the gang to at least 14 cases of robbery, dacoity, and murder across several states, including Goa, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, and Delhi.
In one major incident in Goa, the gang allegedly looted cash and jewellery worth ₹35 lakh after assaulting and restraining family members. In another case, they reportedly escaped with around one kilogram of gold and ₹3 lakh in cash.
And in Karnataka’s Hubballi, they are accused of targeting elderly individuals, with some cases turning fatal.
Wider network under scanner
Authorities believe the gang operated with the help of a local support network that provided intelligence on potential targets and assisted with illegal entry and shelter.
Some of the arrested accused were already wanted in previous cases, with non-bailable warrants issued against them in multiple states.
Police officials stated that the Crime Branch had been tracking the gang for months in coordination with other state police units. Efforts are now underway to identify and arrest the remaining members, including those who facilitated their operations.
Vigilance Beyond Borders
The arrest of Sohail Sheikh and his accomplices, Suman Hauldhar, Saifful Islam, Mohammad Nasir, Noor Islam, and Zakir, is a testament to the inter-state coordination of Bharat’s security forces. However, it also highlights the persistent threat of illegal infiltration.
When criminals can treat a national border as a “reset button” for their crimes, the security challenge becomes existential. As the Crime Branch hunts for the remaining two escapees, the focus must shift to the logistics of the border: those who provide the “safe houses” and “smuggling routes” are just as guilty as the ones pulling the trigger.