Gang of 20 History-Sheeters Arrested with Weapons: Police Commissioner Sandeep Rai Rathore

In a significant operation, the Greater Chennai Police (GCP) Commissioner Sandeep Rai Rathore announced the mass arrest of a gang comprising 20 history sheeters found in possession of arms and ammunition. The arrests came after a tip-off about individuals carrying dangerous weapons at a restaurant in Thirumangalam, prompting swift action by the serious crime squad. Among those apprehended were individuals previously involved in notorious criminal activities, including the murder of ‘Arcot’ Suresh in August 2023.

Notably, the detained individuals, R. Jayabal, T. Chockalingam alias Suresh, and A. Muthukumar Madan, had been recently released on bail after being detained under the Goondas Act. The interrogation further revealed the involvement of additional suspects, leading to the subsequent arrests of T. Vasanth David, T. Selva Bharathy, and Raj Prakash Godwin alias Thambirajan. Thambirajan, who supplied the country-made guns to the gang, had spent time in Bihar. The investigation uncovered a plot by the gang to eliminate a rival, emphasizing the seriousness of the threat posed by such criminal elements. Additionally, the police seized a significant cache of weapons, including country-made guns and knives, along with several cars.

The Commissioner also addressed police action ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, stating that measures were being taken by guidelines from the Election Commission of India (ECI). He highlighted the use of technology, such as monitoring apps, to track the movements of history-sheeters and other antisocial elements. Furthermore, efforts to execute pending non-bailable warrants (NBWs) have intensified, with over 580 warrants executed as part of a recent special operation. As for the investigation into bomb threats targeting schools, Rathore revealed that progress had been made, with cyber crime police gathering clues and dispatching teams to analyze similar incidents across different cities to apprehend the culprits behind the threats.