GANG COMMITTED 54 INCIDENTS BY FEROZEPORE RESIDENT LADY MAHI ALIAS DEEPU, FAZILKA RESIDENT SUNNY SACHDEVA AND ONE UP YOUTH RESIDING AT BHAINSA TIBBA, ALL REMANDED TO POLICE CUSTODY FOR 3 DAYS 

Face2News/Panchkula 

The Panchkula Police Crime Branch, Sector-19, under the leadership of Incharge Mukesh Saini, has busted a notorious gang involved in robbery, blackmailing and forcible extortion by trapping vehicle drivers on highways with the help of a woman seeking lifts. The police have arrested three accused, including a woman, who were involved in as many as 54 criminal incidents. The car used in the crimes has been recovered, while recovery of looted cash, mobile phones and the knife used in the offences is underway during police remand.

The gang had been active for a long time in Panchkula, Mohali and Ambala and surrounding areas. All three accused have been sent on three days police remand. Several cases of snatching, robbery and extortion were already registered against them.

ACP Crime Arvind Kamboj, while interacting media said that on Dec. 15, a truck driver from Himachal Pradesh stated that on 13 December, while transporting goods from Baddi to Dehradun, he crossed the Chandimandir Toll Plaza around 5 a.m., where an unknown woman asked for a lift. Showing humanitarian concern, the driver stopped his vehicle. The woman told him she wanted to go to the IT Park near Nada Sahib.

When the driver stopped near Village Chauki after crossing the Ghaggar River bridge on the Panchkula–Yamunanagar National Highway, two youths alighted from a WagonR car, forced the driver to open the window at knifepoint, and robbed him of about ₹2,400 cash and a mobile phone. They also forcibly transferred ₹50,000 via Google Pay using his mobile phone. Based on the complaint, a robbery case was registered at Police Station Chandimandir.

Considering the seriousness of the case, the investigation was handed over to the Crime Branch, Sector-19. Acting on secret information, the team arrested Ashok Kumar (23), resident of Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh (currently residing in Bhainsa Tibba), and Sunny Kumar Sachdeva, resident of Fazilka, Punjab (currently residing in Ludhiana), on 17 December near Suraj Cinema, Sector-1, Panchkula. The WagonR car used in the crime was recovered from them.

On 18 December, the female accused Sandeep Kaur alias Mahi alias Deepu, resident of Firozpur district, Punjab, was also arrested. All three were produced before the court and taken on three days police remand.

DCP Crime & Traffic Manpreet Singh Soodan said that investigations revealed the accused were operating as an organized gang and targeted highway drivers using the woman as bait. During interrogation, the accused confessed to committing 54 incidents of snatching, extortion and blackmailing across Panchkula, Mohali and Ambala. Several criminal cases are already registered against them in Punjab as well. One more accused is currently absconding, and continuous raids are being conducted to arrest him. Further investigation into their involvement in other cases is ongoing.

Police Commissioner Panchkula (ADGP) Shivas Kaviraj stated that Panchkula Police is taking firm and strategic action against criminals. The success in this case reflects the alertness and coordination of the police teams. He assured that strict and swift action against crimes such as robbery and snatching will continue. He also appealed to the public to remain vigilant, avoid giving lifts to unknown persons, and immediately inform the police about any suspicious activity.