CHANDIGARH, June 29: Five members of a six-person gang, including a woman who posed as a helpless pedestrian, have been arrested by police for allegedly luring truck drivers and pedestrians into isolated areas before robbing and blackmailing them. The group has been linked to over 20 such incidents in and around IT City and Zirakpur.
Acting on a tip-off, a team from the CIA staff led by Inspector Harminder Singh raided an area near the Indian Oil Petrol Pump on Aerocity Road and arrested five accused. One gang member, Sunny Kumar Sachdeva, remains at large. Police recovered four high-end mobile phones and a fake microphone used to impersonate journalists—an act meant to intimidate and confuse their victims.
According to investigators, the woman, identified as Sandeep Kaur alias Mahi, was central to the gang’s operations. Late at night, she would station herself along roads such as Airport Road, Zirakpur-Banur Road, and Zirakpur-Panchkula Road, stopping vehicles under the pretext of seeking a lift or directions. Once inside the vehicle, she would guide the driver to a deserted location where her accomplices would appear, record video clips, and begin issuing threats.
The gang used the threat of making the video footage “viral” to coerce victims into handing over money, mobile phones, and valuables. “They targeted lone drivers, mostly truckers or pedestrians, and used psychological intimidation—sometimes pretending to be journalists with a press mic to add legitimacy and fear,” said a senior police official.
Two gang members, Irbnpreet Singh alias Pinky and Harjinder Singh alias Laadi, allegedly played the role of fake reporters, further pressuring the victims. The recovered microphone was used during these staged encounters, police said.
A case was registered on June 22 at the IT City Police Station under Sections 318(2), 308(2), 304(2), and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Police confirmed that two of the five arrested are currently under remand, while the other three have been sent to judicial custody.
Several of the accused have prior criminal records, including cases under the Arms Act, extortion, and theft. Police said confessions from the accused point to a pattern of repeated crimes, all orchestrated using similar tactics. Authorities are now working to locate the remaining gang member and are reviewing CCTV footage and digital evidence to trace additional victims.
“This gang’s modus operandi was carefully planned to exploit trust, create panic, and extort. We’re urging anyone who may have encountered similar threats to come forward,” the officer added.
