They came with marriage proposal, went with loot

Two members of a Meerut-based gang, including a 59-year-old woman, were arrested for robbing a family in north Delhi’s Azad Market on the pretext of a marriage proposal last week.

During the third meeting, the gang went with country-made pistols and decamped with cash and jewellery worth Rs 5 lakh, police said on Tuesday. Zahida and 26-year-old Mohammad Sajid were nabbed for robbery on November 12. Zahida harbours criminals, while Sajid sells spices in Meerut.

Police said a resident of Azad Market had received a marriage proposal for her daughter from a family based in east Delhi’s Seelampur.

“The relatives of the bridegroom had visited the complainant’s house in June and September for initiating the proposal,” said Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Ravindra Yadav.

On November 12, the would-be bridegroom along with three men and a woman visited her house again for finalising the wedding. The complainant along with her mother, daughter and son were present at the house.

“After some time, the guests took out pistols and knives and threatened them to hand over the cash and valuables or face dire consequences,” Yadav added.

The gang members tied the family members with ropes and pasted adhesive tapes on their mouth. They then ransacked the house and took away Rs 1.50 lakh cash along with gold and silver jewellery.

“The gang decamped after locking the main door of the house from outside,” Yadav said.

A case was registered with Bara Hindu Rao police station. On November 14, police were informed that two members of the gang would visit Anand Vihar ISBT for disposal of the robbed jewellery. A trap was laid on which Zahida and Sajid were held.

On interrogation, they confessed and revealed the name of their accomplices. They further informed that the gang had come to know from the neighbours of the complainant about her marriageable daughter. They planned to enter the house on the pretext of marriage proposal and rob them.

“The gang went to the house twice to win the family’s confidence and finally executed the plan last week,” Yadav added.