Suspended cop leads auto-lifting gang

When police intercepted a motorcycle rider during a routine check in the state capital on Tuesday and found that his vehicle was stolen, little did they realise that the culprit was from their own fraternity.

He was a policeman, though a suspended one. And his father was a cop.

It was later found that Dharmendra Verma was the leader of an interstate gang that stole vehicles.

According to police officials, Verma tried to speed past a police barricade at Alambagh area on Tuesday evening. He was chased and caught.

He could not produce the registration papers of the two-wheeler he was riding and later confessed that he had stolen it from Naka area in the city a few days back.

During interrogation, Verma also revealed that he had been caught earlier in October and had been arrested with stolen motorbikes. He was released on bail after spending a few days in the jail. As old habits die hard, Verma turned to auto-lifting again after his release.

He revealed that his gang members stole bikes from Uttar Pradesh and then sold them in the neighbouring states of Bihar, Uttarakhand and others. The police are conducting raids to recover the stolen bikes.

Earlier also, cops have been found to be involved in illegal activities. A few months back, it had been revealed that scores of policemen were in jail in the state.

Two police officials in the state capital were recently found to be involved in grabbing land in connivance with some property dealers.

Senior police officials had recently issued directions to identify men in khaki who had links with criminals and throw them out of the service.