In a major development, the Noida Police arrested five members of the notorious “Ullu Gang” on January 6. This gang was notorious for engaging in several criminal activities at night time within the National Capital Region. Reports by NDTV had it that the arrests were made as criminals planned their next robbery.
Arrested individuals Varun, Anees, Dilshad, Salman and Sansar have been identified as those involved in the conspiracy along with accomplices Bhupendra and Shahzad. The gang earned its peculiar name from their code phrase for executing thefts: “aaj raat ullu udega” (the owl will fly tonight).
The accused were involved in several thefts across Noida and Delhi. One of the alleged leaders, Dilshad worked in tandem with Anees, Shahzad and Varun to gather information about target locations. Bhupendra, Anees and Shahzad were behind the sale of stolen material while Salman and Sansar helped identify potential customers. The gang is said to have been active for the past five years.
Noida Police reports that following the arrests, eight stolen tractor-trailers were recovered along with three firearms and four cartridges. The stolen tractors were re-sold to farmers in Meerut and Baghpat for between Rs.35,000 -Rs.50,000 each. The investigation continues to identify any other remaining accomplices of the gang.
2021 statistics revealed by Statista show that theft cases in India have gone up drastically as there were over five hundred and eighty-six thousand reported incidents. This raise makes us wonder what causes such criminal behaviour. Is it because people are less educated, they were chasing easy money or the excitement of participating in risky ventures?
It is important to note that education alone may not be enough to prevent people from engaging in disloyal and criminal behaviour. White-collar crimes, such as the Harshad Mehta Securities Fraud, Satyam Scandal, and Saradha Chit Fund Case, involve individuals with education and professional backgrounds. Therefore, stricter laws and regulations are necessary to deter both petty thefts and white-collar crimes.
Petty thefts often target individuals from middle-class backgrounds, and their complaints may go unnoticed or unreported due to various reasons. Strengthening the judicial system and implementing firmer laws can help address these issues and protect the rights of all citizens.
The arrested members of the Ullu Gang are currently in police custody, and the investigation continues.
