Six held, street children used for crime rescued

Police on Thursday said they had busted a gang here that employed children living on the streets to pick pockets and snatch mobile phones -- after giving them proper training.

As many as 12 children used by the gang were rescued and sent to a juvenile home by a court.

A total of 40 mobile phones, a pistol and Rs 4.5 lakh in cash were seized from the arrested persons.

Those arrested include Yogesh, 19, Raj Kumar, 22, Govind, 23, Ankit, 25, Anil, 27, and Nasir, 28. They were caught from Janata Colony in Shahdara between Monday and Wednesday.

"The gang was busted after a teenager was caught on Monday from Vivek Vihar with a stolen mobile phone. During questioning he revealed the modus operandi of the gang," Deputy Commissioner of Police Nupur Prasad said.

The boy disclosed that other teenagers too were engaged by Raj Kumar and his gang to indulge in crime.

The gang would pick street children, child beggars and orphans from pavements and lure them with food and money to Janata Colony, where they were kept and trained in the use of blades as weapons in case they were caught.

The gang then sent them to crowded places like railway and Metro stations as well as bus stands for picking pockets, Prasad said.

"After the crime, the gang members collected the stolen articles in the evenings and paid the youngsters their commission depending on the value of items," the officer said.

--IANS

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