Karnataka Police arrests all-women highway bandit gang

Mangalore Today News Network

July 11, 2015: Their plan to entice and rob highway truck drivers and their assistants outshone the schemes that are rolled out for Bollywood fans. However, their luck ran out on Thursday after the Karnataka Police nabbed them in perhaps what might be the state’s first all-women gang of highway dacoits.

 

The gang led by Rajabai (60) and having Nilabai (45), Pallavi (22), Radhika (35), Ganga (20) and Saritha (20) has supposedly confessed to have committed at least half-a-dozen highway robberies that occurred this year in central and north Karnataka regions.

The gang’s areas of operation included National Highways 4 (Chennai-Mumbai) and 63 (Ankola-Gooty) passing through Karnataka. The women are now cooling their heels behind the bars. According to the Karnataka Police, the gang targeted long distance trucks coming from Gujarat, Punjab and Haryana.

"They would target trucks with a crew of two, as it was easy to overpower them. They then robbed drivers and helpers of their valuables and personal belongings using sharp weapons," said Koppal Rural PSI Chittaranjan.

He said: "Their modus operandi was interesting. At the highway toll booth, Rajabai would identify potential targets around dusk. She would gain the sympathy of the truck driver and the assistant before boarding the vehicle under the guise of seeking lift to the next town." He added: "After travelling a distance of two kilometres, she would ask the driver to stop the vehicle on spotting Ganga or Saritha at a pre-designated place along the highway. Once her accomplice came on board, the women would start their game."

"The elder woman (Rajabai) would engage the truck driver and the assistant in a discussion to gather all information. Then she would ask her aide (Ganga or Saritha) to act as a pimp and lure the men. Truck drivers easily fell for it and they would ask Rajabai to suggest a place where they could enjoy the evening," the officer said. "The two women would take the men to a desolated place off the highway. Once separated, the rest of the gang would appear and all would pounce on the driver. They would relieve them of their belongings by brandishing long knives and machetes," the police officer said.

After several truck drivers told the local police of the dacoity incidents, four teams were formed to nab the gang. Subsequently, Rajabai was caught while she was boarding a truck at the Shahapura toll gate. After grilling her and based on her input, the police arrested the remaining gang members.

 

Courtesy: Yahoo.com