Cops bust gang that stole 85 bikes in three months

NEW DELHI: Police have busted a gang of motorcycle thieves in south Delhi which stole bikes in Delhi, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh and disposed them of in Lillong, Manipur, by transporting these through railway booking. One of the gang members, identified as 29-year-old H M Burhanuddin, a resident of Lillong in Manipur's Thoubal district, was arrested on May 22 from Arjun Nagar T-point when he came to dispose of a bike stolen from Mayur Vihar on the same day.

With his arrest, 33 stolen motorcycles were recovered and 69 cases were worked out, said cops. One of the accused gang members has been identified as Surender Sharma, a railway agent at Old Delhi railway station, according to police. Burhanuddin also disclosed the names of his associates, including that of gang leader Majid Ali alias Shana and Gaffar.

"Police have recovered 33 stolen motorcycles from Burhanuddin, an active member of Shana gang of Northeast region, and also worked out 69 cases of motor vehicle theft in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Uttrakhand," said Chhaya Sharma, DCP (south).

During questioning, the accused admitted that he was a member of Shana gang, which is involved in auto-lifting across the three states. The other members used to take the delivery of motorcycles from Dimapur railway station in Nagaland for further disposal in various parts of Manipur and Nagaland. The accused disclosed about the booking of several motorcycles recently from Bhiwani railway station to transport them to Nagaland.

Police have recovered a luggage ticket (bilty) of motorcycle booked from Bhiwani railway station to Dimapur, Nagaland, from Burhanuddin's house in Uttam Nagar.

The accused also said that the gang has booked several motorcycles recently from Bhiwani railway station for transporting them to Nagaland. As per the record of the parcel office at Bhiwani station, the gang has transported as many as 85 bikes — mostly stolen from Safdarjung Enclave, Hauz Khas, Sainik Farm and Daryaganj — from Bhiwani to Dimapur in the past three months.

Police also recovered 20 stolen bikes from Old Delhi station which were to be loaded onto Brahamputra Mail. The gang used to steal motorcycles early in the morning, preferably of red colour as these are in great demand in Manipur.

"They used to deliver the stolen bikes to other members on the directions of gang leader Shana, who prepared forged documents using fake numbers of Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana," Sharma said, adding that efforts are on to nab Shana and other members.