5 wanted train-theft gang members held at Delhi airport
New Delhi (PTI): The Delhi Police has arrested five members of an inter-state gang allegedly involved in stealing gold, cash and valuables from passengers travelling on long-distance trains, an official said on Tuesday.
Police said the accused were wanted in a case lodged at Maharashtra's Miraj Railway police station last month.
"The Miraj Railway police had registered an FIR on November 26 after jewellery worth Rs 10 lakh was stolen from a train in Pune. Investigators later learnt that the five suspects had flown to Goa and were scheduled to land in Delhi on Sunday," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Sanjeev Kumar Yadav said in a statement.
The officer further said after information from the Miraj Railway police, a team was dispatched to the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport. The team kept surveillance at the airport and detained the suspects soon after they arrived.
"The accused were identified as Hawa Singh (65), Amit Kumar (35), Kuldeep (34), Ajay (36) and Monu (32), all residents of Haryana's Jind and Bhiwani districts," the DCP said.
During their search, police seized 177 grams of silver articles, which the accused admitted were stolen from passengers in another incident. Four of the accused -- Singh, Kumar, Ajay and Monu -- confessed to their involvement in the Maharashtra case and were arrested. The news of their arrest has been conveyed to the Miraj Railway police.
Police said the gang was notorious for targeting passengers travelling in air-conditioned coaches of long-distance trains, especially those carrying jewellery and expensive belongings. They frequently travelled across states by trains and buses, blending in with passengers while identifying targets and stealing from bags and luggage.
All five accused are repeat offenders involved in multiple thefts reported from trains across different states. Further investigation is underway.
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'Warm and engaging atmosphere reigned', Shashi Tharoor on Putin banquet
New Delhi (PTI): Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, who on Friday attended a banquet for Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, on Saturday described the atmosphere there as "warm" and "engaging", and said he enjoyed his conversations with many of the attendees.
Tharoo’s remarks came a day after President Droupadi Murmu hosted a banquet for the visiting Russian president at the Rashtrapati Bhavan here.
“Attended the @rashtrapatibhvn banquet for President Putin last night. A warm and engaging atmosphere reigned. Enjoyed my conversations with many of the attendees, especially my dining companions from the Russian delegation!" Tharoor said in a social media post.
Murmu, while welcoming President Putin and his delegation at the banquet, had said that his visit marked an important milestone -- the 25th anniversary of the India-Russia strategic partnership, which was established in October 2000 during his first visit to the country as president.
Murmu also appreciated Putin's support and personal commitment to the India-Russia special and privileged strategic partnership.
The Congress on Friday said that the leaders of the opposition, Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, were not invited to the banquet, and took a swipe at Tharoor for accepting the invite.
The party’s media and publicity department head, Pawan Khera, accused the government of breaking protocols daily and not believing in democratic principles.
“There is no invite to both the LoPs, Mr (Mallikarjun) Kharge and Mr (Rahul) Gandhi. This comes as a surprise, but I don't think we should be surprised. This government is known to be breaching all protocols. What else to say, ask the government,” Khera said on Friday.
Asked about Tharoor accepting the invite for the banquet, Khera said, "Ask Mr Tharoor. All of us who are in the party, if our leaders don't get invited and we get invited, we need to question our own conscience and listen to our conscience. Politics has been played in inviting or not inviting people, which in itself is questionable, and those who accept such an invite are also questionable."
“We would have listened to our voice of conscience,” he added.
Earlier, Tharoor had said that there was a time when the chairman of the external affairs committee was routinely invited, but that practice seems to have stopped some years ago.
On Thursday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged that the government tells visiting foreign dignitaries not to meet the leader of opposition due to its "insecurity".
His remarks came hours ahead of Putin's two-day visit to India.
