MP gang becomes active again in Ludhiana as wedding season begins

With the onset of the wedding season, a notorious gang from Madhya Pradesh, known for stealing cash and gold from matrimonial ceremonies, has resurfaced in the city, officials privy to the matter said .

Authorities said thefts were reported at two wedding ceremonies in the district and the MP gang was suspected to be behind the incidents.

In the first case, Dehlon police arrested three MP men for allegedly stealing a bag of cash from a wedding at a resort in Ranian village in Dehlon. The accused, identified as Ghanaiya Lal, Baadak and Vishal alias Sony, were caught on closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras while stealing the bag.

The first information report (FIR) was registered following a complaint from Sikandar Singh, 56, a resident of Ranian village.

In his complaint, Sikandar Singh said he found the bag containing cash and ‘shagun’ envelopes missing from his daughter Mandeep Kaur’s wedding.

He added that when the resort manager checked the CCTV footage, the suspects were seen stealing the bag. Another camera outside the complex captured the accused fleeing in an auto-rickshaw.

Sikandar Singh then informed the police.

Dehlon Police Station House Officer (SHO) Inspector Gagandeep Singh confirmed that this gang was also previously active in the city and several similar incidents were reported.

“We identified the suspects from footage from a previous case, when the gang members were arrested. They are known to target wedding events during the season, stealing cash and valuables,” the inspector said.

In the second case, a bag full of cash and gold was stolen from a wedding at a matrimonial palace near Jandiali village on Chandigarh Road.

Focal Point police have filed a complaint against an unidentified accused. CCTV footage showed a teenager running away with the bag.

Navdeep Singh, a resident of Samrala, said in his complaint that during his elder brother’s wedding, a bag containing cash, a gold necklace and two gold rings went missing.

ASI Balbeer Singh, the investigating officer at Focal Point police station, said a teenager was caught on CCTV cameras running away with the bag. He said police suspected the same gang of deputies were behind the robbery. “We are checking the involvement of the gang,” he added.