Surat: The Surat Rural Local Crime Branch (LCB) arrested three alleged members of the Mohaniya gang during a late-night raid in Dahod district, police said Sunday, in what officials described as a significant breakthrough in multiple burglary and robbery investigations across Gujarat.

Police apprehended the suspects from Undar village in Dahod district following a coordinated operation based on technical surveillance and human intelligence inputs. Authorities identified the arrested men as Daliyo alias Dalo alias Gando Mohaniya, Dilip alias Dilo Mohaniya, and Kalpesh alias Patti Mohaniya.

According to Surat District Rural Assistant Commissioner of Police Akshesh Engineer, the gang had remained active for a long period and is suspected to be linked to more than 15 criminal cases registered in various districts of Gujarat and neighboring states.

Investigators said leads developed during the probe into a burglary at Sovereign Bungalows in Kamrej helped police trace the suspects to the hilly region of Dahod, where the group allegedly operated from remote locations to avoid detection.

Police said the suspects used difficult terrain and kept pet dogs near their hideouts to detect movement in hilly terrain and warn them about approaching outsiders or law enforcement personnel Despite those precautions, the LCB team conducted a night operation and secured the arrests after laying a trap in the area.

Authorities alleged the gang members frequently posed as daily wage labourers in cities including Surat, Vadodara, Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar to survey residential neighborhoods and identify locked houses. Investigators believe the suspects carried out burglaries mainly during nighttime hours when homeowners were away.

The Mohaniya gang has previously drawn police attention in connection with property crimes in central and south Gujarat, particularly cases involving house break-ins and thefts from residential societies. Officials said the arrests are expected to help solve several pending property offence cases under investigation in multiple districts.

Police said further interrogation of the accused is underway to identify additional gang members and recover stolen property allegedly linked to the cases. DeshGujarat