After a lull of about three years ‘Irani’ gangs have made a comeback to the city. Within a span of four days they have committed three offences at Dabagardens, Kancharapalem and BC-Road in Gajuwaka area. In all the three offences together they made good with about 11 tolas of gold ornaments from gullible people.
Who are they?
One would ask who are they and why are they called ‘Irani’ gang. As the name suggest and as per records in the police books, the roots of their ancestors can be traced back to Persian region.
According to the police, their ancestors were brought from Persia by Golconda kings who appointed them as their personal bodyguards. Because of their strong physique and bravery then they were considered to be the finest warriors.
Today, they may have lost the warrior touch, but are experts in cheating people by posing as policemen. And the police across the State have named them as ‘Irani’ gangs, said ADCP (Crimes) S. Varadaraju.
The modus operandi of the gang is simple. They operate in a gang of at least four members. Each of them is well dressed and at least two of them don the ‘safari’ suits, as worn by police officers in ‘mufti’.
They prey on elderly women or men, preferably walking down a lonely street. One of them approaches the target as policeman. When the victim approaches the ‘so called’ inspector, he narrates a story such as murderer is on the prowl or a notorious robber or chain snatcher is roaming in the area.
If the victim bites the bait and hands over the jewellery to the ‘inspector’, who promptly wraps it in a cover and hands it back. But in reality, what happens is that in the melee the cover is changed and only on reaching home will the victim understand that the original was replaced by fake ornaments.
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In Visakhapatnam, in 2013 six cases were reported, and in 2014 four cases reported. Since then they have not struck in the city, till the recent ones.
Sumit Bhattacharjee
