Six members of an interstate “Pardi gang” are arrested in Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh, for allegedly planning a robbery at Sarafa Market in Chandni Chowk, police say. According to Additional Superintendent of Police Vivek Kumar Lal, Station Road police station receives a tip on Saturday night about six to seven suspicious people near Panchpir Dargah and New Eidgah on Unkala Road. Police allege the group carried sharp weapons and intended to loot a major jewellery shop. Three police teams, led by CSP Satyendra Ghanghoria, set a trap and arrest all six shortly after midnight, before the alleged crime could be carried out.

Police identify the suspects as Kailash (56) and Vajood alias Angad (29) from Ashoknagar; Mehar Singh alias Nehariya (60), Namesh alias Soldier (20), all from Raisen; and Prabhat alias Chetan (27) from Raisen; and Nikhil (19), originally from Guna. Investigations reportedly find multiple criminal cases linked to the men. Police also state that Prabhat alias Chetan has a bounty connected to a major dacoity case in Nepanagar, Burhanpur, and that absconder warrants are pending.

A Ratlam-based gang member, Dinesh Handa of Bajrang Nagar, allegedly scouts the market and escapes; police are searching for him. Residents say they had seen the group moving through villages at night for several days and had alerted authorities.