UP Gang with Advanced Degrees Arrested in Kolkata with Italian Pistol
Police Refute Claims of City Becoming Criminal Haven
Initial Arrest and Discovery
Kolkata Police arrested five highly educated men from Uttar Pradesh in a late-night raid near Surendranath College, recovering sophisticated weapons including an Italian-made pistol. The arrests have prompted authorities to strongly reject suggestions that the city has become a safe haven for criminals from other states.
Gang Leadership and Operation
The gang, led by BTech graduate Rukesh Sahani from Ghazipur, was apprehended late Monday in central Kolkata’s Sealdah area. Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Meeraj Khalid confirmed the arrests were based on intelligence inputs but acknowledged that investigators are still working to uncover the group’s intended criminal activities.
Police Investigation Status
“We are yet to ascertain why they had come to Kolkata,” Khalid stated at the Lalbazar police headquarters on Tuesday morning. “While the presence of firearms indicates criminal intent, the specific nature of their planned activities remains under investigation.”
Suspects and Weapons Recovered
The suspects were identified as Rukesh Sahani (Ghazipur), Shiv Shankar Yadav (Haldharpur), Rahul Yadav (Gazipur), Aditya Maurya (Mau), and Devank Gupta (Kanpur). Police recovered a 7mm semi-automatic pistol and a single-shot weapon, along with 15 rounds of live ammunition, when they were arrested outside Surendranath Women’s College. Notably, none carried identification documents.
Educational Background
What sets this case apart is the educational background of the suspects. “All members are well-educated,” Khalid emphasized. “Beyond the BTech graduate who appears to be the leader, we have an MCom degree holder, an ITI graduate, and two others with degrees in arts and science.” Police are now working to verify their backgrounds and any potential criminal history.
Official Response
Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma strongly contested characterizations of the city as a criminal haven. “These things happen in every state. Criminals move from one state to another. How the state police react to these movements is important,” he stated. Verma pointed to recent successes, including significant progress in solving the attempted assassination of Trinamul councillor Sushanta Ghosh in Kasba, where most suspects have been apprehended.
Travel and Previous Incidents
The investigation has revealed a railway ticket in Sahani’s possession, though the travel methods of his associates remain unclear. This incident follows another significant arms seizure in the nearby Baithakkhana area just two months ago, where weapons were recovered from a Bihar-based gang.
Pattern of Criminal Activities
The arrests come amid a pattern of out-of-state criminal activities in Kolkata, including several high-profile cases. Besides the attempt on councillor Ghosh’s life, the city recently witnessed the fatal shooting of a Trinamul leader in Malda’s Englishbazar by assailants from Bihar.
Ongoing Investigation
Joint CP Khalid emphasized that the next phase of investigation will focus on uncovering any local connections. “We have not yet been able to ascertain if they had any contact person in Calcutta. We will seek their custody to unearth the details behind their visit to the city,” he explained.
Broader Implications
The arrests highlight growing challenges of inter-state crime in major Indian cities and raise questions about the sophistication of criminal operations, particularly given the educational qualifications of the suspects. The presence of an Italian-made semi-automatic weapon also points to potential concerns about arms trafficking networks operating across state borders.
Future Focus
As the investigation continues, authorities are focusing on several key areas: the source of the sophisticated weapons, the group’s potential local contacts, their exact plans in Kolkata, and whether they are connected to larger criminal networks operating across state lines. The case also raises important questions about the factors driving educated individuals toward criminal activities and the need for better interstate coordination in tracking and preventing organized crime.
Conclusion
The incident serves as a reminder of the complex challenges facing law enforcement in modern urban centers, where criminal operations are becoming increasingly sophisticated and often involve well-educated individuals. Police officials emphasize that their response to such challenges will continue to be proactive and thorough, regardless of the perpetrators’ backgrounds or origins.