Two key members of 'Bidar Gang', behind multiple jewelry thefts, arrested after 250 CCTV footage review in Kolkata

In a major breakthrough, Kolkata police arrested two key members of the Bidar gang after a month-long investigation involving the review of 250 CCTV footage. The two accused, identified as Taki Yusuf Ali and Hasani Nasser Hussain, both Iranian nationals, were apprehended in Latur, Maharashtra. The gang is notorious for its high-profile burglaries across several states, including West Bengal, Maharashtra, and Karnataka. The police operation was led by Baguiati Police Station, who had been tracking the gang's activities for several months.

The Bidar gang, named after their base in Karnataka, employed deceptive tactics to target individuals, especially the elderly or those wearing jewelry. According to police sources, the accused would dress in Kolkata police uniforms and stand by the roadside with bikes. They would approach people and inform them that a robbery had occurred nearby. They offered a packet to victims for safekeeping their jewelry. Many unsuspecting victims, frightened by the claim, handed over their jewelry, believing it was a safety measure. However, the packets were switched, and the gang would vanish before the victims realized what had happened.

Over the course of their operations, the gang is believed to have committed between 30 to 40 thefts, mostly in Kolkata and other regions of West Bengal. Police sources indicated that the gang had been difficult to track because of their use of high-end travel, staying in luxury hotels, and changing clothes frequently. Their ability to quickly blend in and switch identities made it challenging for authorities to capture them earlier.

The investigation into their activities began last year when a resident of the Shurer Math area in the Baguiati jurisdiction became a victim of the gang. Following this, the police initiated a detailed investigation, leading to the identification of the suspects. According to police reports, the gang operated across several states, traveling by plane and changing locations frequently to avoid detection. Their ability to blend into local environments and the luxury they lived in made them difficult to trace.

Police sources revealed that the suspects had gone to Latur for another robbery attempt. After careful surveillance and coordination, a raid was conducted in Latur, leading to the arrest of Ali and Hussain. The police believe this arrest will significantly impact the operations of the Bidar gang and prevent further criminal activities in the future. The investigation is ongoing, and the authorities are working to identify and apprehend the remaining members of the gang.