The Delhi Police arrested six Bangladeshi dacoits after a late-night encounter near Sarai Kale Khan, officials said on Wednesday (15th April). The gang is accused of carrying out violent robberies and murders across several Indian states and then escaping back to Bangladesh to avoid arrest.
According to police, the operation was carried out by the Anti-Extortion and Kidnapping Cell of the Crime Branch during the intervening night of 14th and 15th April. A senior officer said, “The accused, all residents of Bagerhat district in Bangladesh, were apprehended during a high-risk operation… based on a tip-off.”
Team of AEKC @CrimeBranchDP, arrested 06 Bangladeshi dacoits after a brief exchange of fire near Sarai Kale Khan.
— Delhi Police (@DelhiPolice) April 15, 2026
On secret input, a trap was laid at a secluded location in South Delhi where the gang had assembled for dacoity, they opened fire on the police team while attempting… pic.twitter.com/PH8RazAqHX
Police said they received information that the gang had recently entered India illegally through the Indo-Bangladesh border and was planning a robbery in South Delhi. Acting quickly, a team set up a trap near a forested area close to the Sarai Kale Khan cremation ground.
When officers tried to catch them, the dacoits opened fire. Police responded carefully and managed to overpower six of them. However, two others managed to escape in the darkness.
The arrested accused have been identified as Suman Hauldhar alias Pannu, Saifful Islam, Sohail Sheikh, Mohammad Nasir, Noor Islam alias Nadim Khan, and Zakir.
Weapons and tools recovered
During the operation, police recovered four country-made pistols, live cartridges, used shells, and tools used for breaking into houses. A case has been registered, and efforts are ongoing to catch the remaining members of the gang.
Police said the gang had been active for several years and followed a “hit-and-run” method. They would enter India illegally, commit robberies with extreme violence, and then quickly return to Bangladesh.
An officer explained, “They would enter India illegally through Tripura, commit dacoities involving brutal violence, and then flee back to Bangladesh to evade arrest. After lying low for a few months, they would return and target new areas.”
The gang mainly targeted wealthy households, especially homes where elderly people lived alone. They avoided using mobile phones to stay off the radar and instead relied on human couriers and smugglers to move across borders.
Crimes across multiple states
Police said the gang is involved in at least 14 cases of robbery, dacoity, and murder across states like Goa, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, and Delhi.
In one case in Mapusa, Goa, in 2025, the gang broke into a house, tied up family members, assaulted them, and escaped with cash and jewellery worth ₹35 lakh. In another case in Panaji, they reportedly looted around one kilogram of gold and ₹3 lakh after locking the victims inside their home.
In Karnataka’s Hubballi, the gang is accused of attacking elderly residents and looting valuables. In some cases, the crimes turned horrible, including the killing of a senior citizen.
Network and ongoing investigation
Police also informed that the gang depended on a network of local contacts and relatives in India to identify targets with large amounts of cash and gold. They also received help in crossing the border and staying hidden.
Some of the arrested accused were already wanted in older cases, including dacoity cases in Karnataka and an encounter case in Uttar Pradesh. Non-bailable warrants had also been issued against two of them in Delhi.
Officials added that the Crime Branch had been tracking the gang for months and worked closely with police teams in other states to gather information.
“Further efforts are underway to identify additional members of the network, including those who facilitated illegal entry and provided logistical support,” the officer said.
