Troubled over growing incidents of theft in the ongoing Simhastha (Kumbh) Mela, police on Thursday launched a drive and busted a gang of thieves, arresting 86 people, including those in garb of ‘sadhus’ and recovered large sum of money, valuables and mobile phones from their possession.
After enhancing vigil in the Mela area following a flurry of theft complaints including from Akhara Parishad, police first caught a man stealing a trouser of a devotee in the garb of a sadhu (saint), Additional SP, Aditya Pratap Singh said.
A team led by DIG Rakesh Gupta raided a hideout near lalpul area by arresting a gang of 86 people including 20-25 women involved in thefts in the Mela area.