Kathmandu. In the last three months, complaints of robbery have been increasing almost every day at different police units in Kathmandu. Dozens of complaints of robbery started pouring in every day, which worried the police officers at the District Police Range, Kathmandu.

The Kathmandu Police decided to launch ‘Operation Snatching’ to take the challenging incident under control and to create chaos in the society. In the meantime, the police increased surveillance by setting up ‘check points’ in various suspicious areas.

Police opened fire from Mulpani of Kathmandu last night and took them under control of the group that has been unleashing looting in different places of Kathmandu and Bhaktapur. Organising a press conference here today, the District Police Range Kathmandu made public the arrest of 10 persons including Binay Tamang, the leader of a gang involved in the robbery.

The arrestees have been identified as Binay Tamang, 23, Salon Tamang, 20, Rajiv Bhandari, 18, and Pema Tamang, 29, of Kavrepalanchowk, Ayan Majhi, 24, and Sabin Majhi, 32, of Sindhuli, Manish Rasaili, 23, of Morang, Bishal Tamang, 22, of Ramechhap, Bidur Bishwakarma, 28, of Khotang and Phurba Tamang, 29, of Sindhupalchowk. Police confiscated a car (Ba 12 Cha 7701), a taxi (Bagmati State 0100 Ja 8766) and six motorcycles from their possession. Police had launched an operation from 6 pm on Wednesday to 3 am today to arrest them.

Police were able to take them under control on the basis of CCTV footage. Police said that the group was taken under control after they tried to attack the police during the investigation. Research has shown that the group became active after the Genji movement.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ramesh Thapa said Tamang’s gang had been robbing men and women of gold ornaments and money at different places of Kathmandu and Bhaktapur in the middle of the night. They used to beat up and loot people who were going for various works from 12 midnight to 4 am.

They used to walk in a group ÷of three people on a motorcycle to rob them. Various members of the Binay group used to drive taxis in the afternoon, do ‘reci’, gather at a place around 9 pm and eat and loot from 12 am to 4 am. After the robbery, they used to return to their regular routine in taxis and private cars.

Preliminary investigation has revealed that the group’s leader, Binay Jenji, escaped from the custody of Maharajgunj Circle during the agitation. After escaping from custody, he activated the group under his leadership. According to police, the group committed seven robberies in Swayambhu, ÷three in Budhanilkantha, Bouddha and Gaushala and 13 in Thimi of Bhaktapur. The group had set out to loot the Mulpani area last night. The police opened fire near the Mulpani Cricket Ground and opened fire at the police after they proceeded to attack the police without stopping the checkpoint.

A member of the robber gang who was shot by the police is undergoing treatment, police said. Investigation revealed that Ayan, who was the commander of the robber group, used to ride a motorcycle during the robbery. Earlier, Binay was involved in theft in 2079 BS and robbery in 2082 BS. According to the police data, a case of robbery was filed against Ayan at the Bhaktapur Police Range on January 11, 2022.

According to SSP Thapa, most of those involved in the robbery have criminal background. He said that Pema and Salon are brothers. To evade the police, the group used to sprinkle mud on the number plate of the motorcycle and make it unidentifiable.