SURAT: In a significant breakthrough, the Railway Police in Vadodara have apprehended four members of the notorious Chokdi gang, who had been preying on passengers of luxury trains like Tejas and Rajdhani. This arrest also sheds light on the recent theft incidents reported at the bustling Surat Railway Station.
Police revealed that the detained members include Saeed Khan alias Asif alias Chuha Nazir Khan Pathan, Shahjad Ali alias Raja Syed Ali Syed, Talif alias Masala Rubab Mansuri, and Dharmendra alias Dhamu Sajjan Khalsen. The quartet, infamously known within the railway circles as the Chokdi gang, would employ tactics such as using crowds as cover and physically confronting travelers to divert their attention before committing the theft.
An amount of Rs 50,000 in cash was retrieved from the arrested individuals. Disturbingly, CCTV footage corroborated their involvement in numerous thefts, including an incident on July 25, where they pilfered money from a passenger boarding the Delhi-bound Tejas Rajdhani train from platform number 1.
Commenting on the situation, Railway Police Officer D.H. Gore detailed their strategy, "Their primary targets are affluent-looking travelers aboard luxury trains like the Rajdhani Express and Tejas. Typically, three of the gang members confront and intimidate the chosen passenger. While the victim is distracted, the fourth member stealthily commits the theft. Subsequently, all four make their escape."
With this arrest, several open cases registered at the Surat Railway Police Station are anticipated to reach a resolution. The safety concern, however, remains prominent, underscoring that even passengers of luxury trains aren't exempt from such threats.
