Police have uncovered an alleged women’s gang while investigating the theft of a gold bangle from a female devotee at the well-known Patiala Temple in Panchkula, Haryana. According to police, 70-year-old Lakshmi Kaur is the alleged gang leader and had allegedly brought together female relatives and acquaintances to carry out thefts at temples.
The investigation began after a gold bangle was stolen from a female devotee at Patiala Temple in Panchkula. Police examined CCTV footage and other leads, which led them to suspect the activities of several women. As the investigation progressed, police gathered information about a gang whose members allegedly visited temples and crowded religious sites in groups.
According to police, the women positioned themselves around devotees in a manner that made them difficult to suspect. They allegedly used crowds to target women wearing jewellery, particularly observing ornaments worn on the hands and around the neck.
During the investigation, police identified 70-year-old Lakshmi Kaur as an alleged gang leader. According to police, she organised the group and was accompanied by several women who were related to her. She allegedly avoided suspicion because of her age, while other members carried out thefts depending on the circumstances.
Police said the roles of the women in the gang were allegedly predetermined. Some members identified potential targets in the crowd, while others stayed close to them and allegedly carried out the theft. The women then allegedly moved in different directions, making it difficult for police to apprehend them.
Police said their investigation has also brought information about Lakshmi Kaur’s alleged previous criminal network to light. According to police, her name has also been linked to alleged cases involving the smuggling of liquor and drugs in Punjab. Her alleged links with the women’s gang accused of targeting temples in Haryana are now being investigated.
However, police are still investigating her alleged role in those earlier cases and in the current temple theft case. Investigating agencies are trying to determine how long the gang had been active and which temples or religious sites in Haryana may have been targeted in similar incidents.
CCTV footage recorded after the theft at Patiala Temple helped police advance the investigation. Officers examined the movements of the suspected women in the footage and subsequently gathered information about their identities and links with one another.
Police are also investigating how many women were part of the gang and through whom the stolen jewellery was allegedly disposed of. The emergence of an alleged network targeting crowded temples has also raised questions about security at religious sites.
After the investigation is completed, police may reveal further information about other incidents allegedly linked to the gang and the roles of its members. For now, the Panchkula temple theft remains the main focus of the investigation into the alleged women’s gang.
