New Delhi Police has caught a group of thieves called the ‘Band, Baaja, Baraat’ gang, who would sneak into big weddings in the city and nearby areas. Four members of the gang, including a teenager, were arrested, officials said on Thursday.
According to PTI report, the gang, operating from Rajgarh district in Madhya Pradesh, was involved in several incidents of stealing cash and jewellery from wedding venues, police stated.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Apoorva Gupta asserted that “The gang specialised in gatecrashing weddings and blending in with guests by dressing up in festive clothes. They would attend the event as if they were invited to it, have dinner and patiently wait for the right moment to strike,”
Once the chance came, they would quickly steal bags with gifts, jewellery, and cash meant for the bride and groom, then disappear from the wedding, the DCP said.
After several wedding thefts were reported in Delhi-NCR, the police started an investigation. By carefully checking CCTV footage from wedding venues and placing informants at banquet halls and farmhouses, the police were able to identify the criminals, she said.
“The gang’s key tactics involved using minors to commit thefts. Investigations revealed that the gang leader would lure parents in the villages by offering them ₹10 to 12 lakh a year in exchange for their children’s services,” Gupta said.
