Delhi gang’s laughing gas leaves doctor poorer

KOLKATA: The gang that robbed orthopaedic surgeon Samrat Basu at Beadon Street-Rabindra Sarani crossing by sparying some chemical inside his car, might have used nitrous oxide — known as laughing gas — to commit the crime.
According to police sources, “thak thak gangs” ‘Thak thak gangs’ from north India, which are spreading their tentacles in Kolkata, are adopting such new modus operandi.

Days after Basu became this spray gang’s first victim, the Delhi Police said they have five people at the national capital who might have committed crimes in Kolkata. Among the victims of this gang is an UP legislator from Hathras. After questioning, Delhi Police found that some members of the gang had come to Kolkata barely two weeks ago, leading to the possibility that some of their absconding members might have been involved in the north Kolkata incident.
According to police, Basu was crossing the area around 7.15am last Monday when the incident took place. “He was sitting in the rear seat. When the car stopped at the signal, a person knocked on the car window and informed the doctor’s driver that black fumes were coming out of the car. As soon as the driver re-started the car, it was filled with dark smoke,” said an investigator.
Last month, the detective department raided southwest Delhi and nabbed a big player from north India whose gang was targeting their victims in south Kolkata. Bhola Das, a resident of Indrapuri in Delhi, was arrested by officers of Kolkata Police watch section for allegedly lifting a bag containing 500gm gold jewellery and Rs 12,000 from a jeweller who had stopped his car at a red light on AJC Bose Road – Sarat Bose Road crossing on June 7.
Another gang led by Kanhaiya Kumar, who was nabbed from Delhi earlier, is active here before the Pujas.“He specifies different roles for different members according to their skills. The teams sent to Kolkata comprise five males and three females. Whenever they manage to steal a handsome booty, they would intimate Kanahiyan, who would then fly to Kolkata, collect the money and fly back to Delhi. The use of chemical, however, has left the cops worried.