4 from Gujarat held in Kolkata for posing as Hindu deities to steal wallets, phones

The Kolkata Police have arrested four men from Gujarat for allegedly posing as Hindu deities and stealing wallets and mobile phones from unsuspecting pedestrians across the city. The accused, residents of Anand district, were detained in the Hastings area following a complaint lodged at Jorasanko Police Station.

According to police, the group dressed up as Goddess Kali, Lord Shiva and other deities, approaching people at traffic signals and busy roads to seek alms. Taking advantage of religious sentiments, they allegedly distracted victims before skilfully picking their pockets. Investigators said the gang used a similar modus operandi in Kolkata as well as in other cities.

The breakthrough came during the investigation of a mobile phone theft case registered at Girish Park Police Station. Two suspects were earlier arrested from the Park Street area, and their interrogation reportedly yielded leads that helped police track down the four accused.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Anil Ramju Salat, Dhiru Kalovai Salat, Samirbhai Salat and Raju Kumar. Police said further investigation is underway to uncover a wider network linked to the racket.