The accused, comprising four men and three women, allegedly travelled together as a family to avoid attracting suspicion while moving between different train routes. According to police, they would observe passengers and look for opportunities to steal from those who had fallen asleep or left their belongings unattended.
The Jhansi railway police arrested the seven on Tuesday and recovered jewellery and cash from them. Investigators are now examining whether the group may have been involved in similar thefts reported at railway stations in other districts and states.
Seven relatives arrested in Jhansi
The seven accused have been identified as Amar, 45, Manoj, 45, Sangeeta, 42, Jyoti, 42, Dilip, 34, Usha, 32, and Krishna Amar, 20.
All seven are residents of Gujarat’s Bhavnagar district and are related to one another, according to the police.
Investigators said the group allegedly travelled together on trains and mingled with other passengers. Their family relationship reportedly helped them move around without immediately drawing attention while they observed passengers and their belongings.
Police said the group particularly looked for passengers who were sleeping or had temporarily moved away from their seats, leaving bags and other valuables unattended.
How the accused were caught
The arrests followed information received by the railway police about the alleged activities of the group.
Based on the information, a police team laid a cordon near the railway tracks at Jhansi railway station. The seven accused were subsequently arrested at the spot.
During questioning, police said the accused disclosed details about the routes they had travelled on while allegedly targeting passengers.
According to the investigation, the group had targeted trains travelling from Jhansi towards Agra, Mathura, Hathras and Bareilly. They also allegedly targeted some trains travelling towards Ayodhya.
The police have registered two theft-related cases against the accused at the Jhansi railway police station.
Investigators are also checking the criminal records of the seven at railway stations in other districts and states to determine whether they are linked to additional cases.
Women passengers and bags allegedly targeted
The investigation has indicated that women passengers and their bags were among the main targets.
According to the police, members of the group would mingle with passengers during train journeys and closely observe their movements. They allegedly waited for an opportunity when a woman passenger fell asleep or became distracted.
The accused would then allegedly open the passenger’s bag and remove jewellery, cash and other valuables.
Police said the stolen jewellery was either sold or transported to destinations where the accused travelled. Investigators are now attempting to establish where the recovered jewellery came from and whether it can be connected to specific theft complaints.
The alleged method relied on taking advantage of crowded train compartments and moments when passengers were not paying attention to their belongings.
Jewellery and cash recovered
The railway police recovered several items during the arrests.
The recovered property includes two bracelets, a mangalsutra and a ring. Police also recovered around Rs 5,000 in cash from the accused.
Investigators are attempting to match the jewellery with details from previously registered theft cases. They are also working to identify the passengers who may have lost the recovered valuables.
Establishing the ownership of the jewellery could help police connect the accused with individual cases and determine whether the recovered items were taken during the train journeys mentioned during the investigation.
The police are also examining whether other stolen property may have been disposed of or transported elsewhere.
Investigation into wider network continues
The arrest of the seven relatives has prompted railway police to examine whether the group operated beyond the routes identified during the initial investigation.
Police are checking records from railway stations in other districts and states for similar theft complaints. Investigators are also looking into whether the accused have previously been booked in cases involving passengers travelling on trains.
The fact that all seven accused are relatives and allegedly travelled together is also part of the investigation into how the group operated and moved between different locations.
For passengers, incidents involving theft from unattended bags and belongings remain a concern, particularly on long-distance and crowded train journeys. Railway police generally advise passengers to keep valuables secure and avoid leaving bags unattended while travelling.
The investigation into the Jhansi case is continuing, with police attempting to establish the full extent of the alleged thefts and identify the owners of the recovered jewellery.