Bengaluru: A two-week undercover operation by the Vidhana Soudha Police has led to the arrest of two alleged members of a pickpocketing gang accused of targeting passengers on crowded Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) buses.
The operation was launched following a series of thefts reported on key BMTC routes earlier this month. Police said the accused allegedly preyed on commuters during peak hours, stealing cash and mobile phones amid the rush.
Among the victims was an 84-year-old pensioner, who allegedly lost Rs 35,000 shortly after withdrawing the money from a bank for his monthly expenses.
Police analyse CCTV to identify suspects
According to the police, investigators examined CCTV footage from several BMTC buses after receiving multiple complaints from commuters.
The footage reportedly revealed a pattern in the suspects’ movements. Investigators found that the accused frequently boarded buses from Shivajinagar, Pulakeshinagar and Benson Town before travelling towards Bengaluru’s central business district.
Based on the CCTV footage and descriptions provided by victims, police prepared facial sketches of the suspects to aid the investigation.
Officers posed as commuters
To track down the suspects, the Vidhana Soudha Police formed a four-member undercover team.
The officers worked in plain clothes, with one policeman travelling daily on identified BMTC routes for more than 10 days while posing as an ordinary commuter.
The surveillance operation enabled the team to closely monitor passenger movement and identify individuals matching the facial sketches.
Suspects arrested on BMTC bus
The operation culminated when an undercover officer spotted two men resembling the suspects boarding a BMTC bus near Shivajinagar.
Backup teams were immediately alerted and intercepted the bus near the Corporation bus stop. Police arrested both suspects without causing panic among passengers or disrupting public transport services.
The arrested accused have been identified as Anwar Pasha (55), a resident of JJ Nagar, and Mubarak Pasha (30), a resident of Kengeri.
Gang allegedly targeted passengers during rush hour
Preliminary investigation suggests the accused allegedly targeted passengers while they were boarding or alighting from crowded buses.
Police said the gang allegedly stole wallets, cash and mobile phones by taking advantage of the congestion during peak commuting hours.
Investigators also found that the gang allegedly employed diversion tactics to distract passengers. One such method reportedly involved pretending to vomit through a bus window, drawing the attention of nearby commuters while accomplices allegedly stole valuables from shirt pockets and bags.
Police believe these tactics enabled the gang to operate unnoticed in crowded buses.
Search on for other gang members
Police suspect that more members of the gang may be involved in the thefts and have expanded the investigation to identify and apprehend the remaining accused.
Officials are examining additional CCTV footage, verifying previous theft complaints and questioning the arrested men to determine the extent of the gang’s activities across the city.
The Vidhana Soudha Police have also advised commuters travelling on crowded BMTC buses to remain vigilant, keep valuables secure and immediately report any suspicious activity to the nearest police station or the BMTC authorities.
The successful undercover operation has helped crack a series of alleged pickpocketing incidents and is expected to aid police in dismantling the network responsible for targeting unsuspecting commuters across Bengaluru.