Five Madhya Pradesh gang members held in Ahmedabad burglary, valuables worth ₹6.5 lakh recovered

In a swift operation, the Ghatlodia police have arrested five members of a Madhya Pradesh-based gang for allegedly breaking into a house in Vardhamannagar Society and stealing gold, silver and cash worth ₹6.52 lakh. Investigators said the accused were also carrying a country-made pistol and seven live cartridges at the time of arrest.

According to police, the housebreaking was reported on the night of September 13, when the owners of a house in Vardhamannagar Society were away. On their return, they found the locks broken and jewellery and cash missing. An FIR was registered at Ghatlodia police station under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)..

A special surveillance squad, supervised by Police Inspector C G Joshi, began analysing CCTV footage and tracking suspects using technical inputs and local informers. On September 18, based on a tip-off, the team intercepted five men near Ghatlodia and seized the stolen valuables, a country-made pistol, cartridges, housebreaking tools and three mobile phones.

Modus operandi

The gang typically arrived in Ahmedabad in small groups by public transport to avoid attention and scouted middle-class neighbourhoods during the day, posing as daily wage workers or painters.

“They identified houses that appeared locked for long periods and quietly returned late at night,” a senior officer said.

Armed with bolt cutters and dismantling tools, they would break locks and quickly collect gold and silver ornaments and cash. One member kept watch outside, while another carried a country-made pistol to intimidate any passerby or resident who might confront them.

After the break-ins, they divided the loot and often fled back to Madhya Pradesh within hours to dispose of the jewellery through local fences or pawn brokers, police added.

The arrested men have been identified as

Dev aka Chotu Udaybhan Parihar (26) of Datia district

Ajay aka Kancho Rajendra Parihar (19) of Bhind district

Videsh aka Chhotu Mahendra Mahoviya (19) of Bhind district

Jitendrasinh aka Jitu Sultansinh Kushwaha (23) of Gwalior district

Madhav Singh aka Madhav Puransingh Parihar (37) of Gwalior district

All five have extensive criminal records in Madhya Pradesh, including cases of theft, housebreaking and possession of illegal arms. Police said Madhav Singh alone faces several dacoity and firearms cases across Gwalior and Bhind districts.

The haul includes two gold bangles, a gold mangalsutra, three gold rings, eight gold earrings, a gold pendant, two gold earring strands, five gold coins and patches, silver anklets, silver necklaces and 33 silver coins and bars worth ₹6.52 lakh have been recovered from the accused. Investigators also seized a country-made pistol valued at ₹10,000, seven cartridges, a bolt cutter, dismantling tools and three mobile phones.

The accused have been booked under the BNS, IPC and the Arms Act and produced before a magistrate, with police seeking custodial remand.

“Preliminary questioning suggests the gang may have committed similar burglaries in other parts of Ahmedabad and across Gujarat. We are working with Madhya Pradesh police to trace their activities and recover more stolen property,” he added.