Rajkot: Police have taken action against a notorious gang involved in theft, robbery, and other serious offences across Rajkot district and the Saurashtra region by registering a case under the Gujarat Control of Terrorism and Organised Crime Act (GUJCTOC) against 19 persons. Out of the total accused, 11 have been arrested and sent to different jails, while four accused already lodged in jail will be taken into custody in this case. Police are also searching for four more accused, including the main mastermind of the gang.

According to police, the gang had created an atmosphere of fear in several districts, including Rajkot, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Junagadh, Jamnagar, Ahmedabad city, Ahmedabad district, Gir Somnath, and Devbhumi Dwarka. Investigation has revealed that the gang members were involved in as many as 92 crimes, including theft, burglary, robbery, and other offences.

The action was taken on the orders of Rajkot SP Vijaysinh Gurjar. Under his instructions, the Local Crime Branch (LCB) team led by PI Odedara registered a GUJCTOC case against 19 accused, including Ranjit alias Bodio of Palitana, who alone is involved in 45 offences.

Arrested accused and crimes

Among those arrested are:

• Bharat Manu Vaghela of Navania (Bhavnagar), involved in 7 crimes including burglaries;

• Manji alias Batli Parasotam Dabhi of Yogath (Bhavnagar), involved in 21 crimes;

• Vipul Bachu Vanadiya of Lakhanka (Botad), involved in 14 theft cases;

• Ashok Labhu Solanki of Mokhadka (Palitana), involved in 14 theft cases;

• Jagdish alias Kaliyo Parmar of Nana Jalia (Palitana), involved in 6 offences;

• Bharat alias Bodiyo Parmar of Medha (Palitana), involved in 18 offences including robbery;

• Raju alias Bhano Parmar of Chotila, involved in 6 offences;

• Naresh Magan Kardia of Jamnagar, involved in 8 theft cases;

• Ajit alias Tihlo Vaghela of Palitana, involved in 5 theft cases;

• Arjun Bhagwan Vaghela of Malvan (Palitana), involved in 4 offences;

• Hira alias Nano Sathalia of Ningala (Botad), involved in 4 theft cases.

Four absconding, including mastermind

Police are searching for four accused, including Ranjit alias Bodio of Palitana, who is involved in 45 offences including robbery, rape, theft, and gang-related crimes. Other absconding accused include Sanjay Manu Vaghela of Navania (Vallabhipur), Ajay alias Bodio Jenti Jhapadiya of Turkha (Botad), and Sanjay Babu Solanki of Bhandaria (Rajkot).

Accused lodged in jail to be taken into custody

Four accused already in jail will also be taken into custody in the GUJCTOC case, including Bharat Manu Vaghela of Vallabhipur, Mukesh Ramesh Solanki of Yogath (Umrala), Manji Dola Vaghela of Dhodha, and Dinesh Dhiru Vaghela of Palitana, all of whom are involved in multiple theft and gang-related offences.

Police said further investigation is underway to trace the remaining accused and to identify other crimes linked to the gang.