Pune police have cracked down on a gang from Bihar that has been preying on passengers during the Dahi Handi and Ganeshotsav festivals.

Operating under the guise of offering help with online ticket bookings, the gang lured unsuspecting travelers to isolated areas, where they were assaulted and robbed.

In a significant breakthrough, the Faraskhana police arrested ten members of the gang and recovered goods worth ₹5.77 lakh, including 41 mobile phones, cash, and various identification cards.

The gang members, all from Bihar, targeted passengers at Pune railway station, promising to assist them with online ticket bookings. Victims were taken to secluded spots, assaulted, and coerced into handing over their valuables, including ATM and ID cards.

The gang would forcefully obtain PINs and other sensitive information, allowing them to drain victims’ bank accounts.

The investigation gained momentum when a 21-year-old from Shirur, who was traveling to Bihar following his father’s accident, fell victim to the gang.

He was lured under the pretext of ticket booking but was instead taken to a deserted spot near the Dulya Maruti Temple, where he was assaulted and robbed of his phone, ATM card, Aadhaar card, and PAN card. The gang withdrew ₹3.03 lakh from his account over two days.

Acting on a tip-off, police set a trap near Dulya Maruti Temple and apprehended Raja Yunus Pinku and Mohammad Sultan Sheikh. Their interrogation led to the identification and arrest of eight additional gang members in Pune.

The police seized 41 mobile phones, a large sum of cash, multiple Aadhaar cards, PAN cards, and ATM cards, confirming the gang’s extensive criminal activities.

The arrests were part of an operation led by senior officers including Additional Police Commissioner Pravin Kumar Patil and Deputy Commissioner Sandeep Singh Gill, with assistance from a dedicated team of police officers.

Their coordinated efforts have put a significant dent in the gang's activities, ensuring a safer environment for festival-goers in Pune.