Two gangs of robbers busted

Kathamndu, July 4:

The Metropolitan Police Crime Division (MPCD), Hanumandhoka, yesterday busted two organised gangs operating in the valley for three months. The MPCD termed it one of the ‘biggest’ arrests made in recent months.

The police arrested members of a professional looting group led by Raju Dhanuke, 25, of Dolakha, on the charge of looting cash and valuables worth Rs 838,590 from five houses owned by Bharati Sharma at Baneshwor, Krishna Jung Karki at Lalitpur, Dipaklal Shrestha at Kirtipur, Gunaraj Ghimire at Dhapasi and Sundar Shrestha at Kathmandu Metropolitan city-16.

They had also looted the British Airways office being operated by Rachana Rana at Kamaladi.

The police arrested Buddha Lama, alias Phuchche, 17, of Lalitpur; Kumar Rana Magar, 22, of Nuwakot; Anish Thapamagar, alias Saila, 23, of Makawanpur; Dipak Thapa Magar, 19, of Ramechhap; Dipak Lama, 26, of Kavre and Satyajit Mandal of India. The police seized 10-and-a- half tolas of golden jewellery, two cameras, two mobile phone sets, a iron rod and a knife from them. “Dhanuke has been jailed thrice earlier, while Anish has been jailed twice,” the police said.

SP Devendra Subedi at the MPCD said the group was operating in the valley as an organised team.

“None of them has taken a room on rent in the valley. They plan the looting in

guest houses and leave the valley for some time after they execute their plan,” Subedi told reporters.

The MPCD also arrested eight persons of a gang who allegedly stole valuables from a number of houses in the valley in recent days.