Noida Gang's Park Blackmail Exposed

Noida police apprehended three individuals on Sunday for a sophisticated blackmail operation that preyed on couples in public parks. The gang's modus operandi involved covertly capturing photographs and videos of unsuspecting couples, subsequently extorting money by threatening to release the images online. This illicit activity was supplemented by a string of mobile phone snatching incidents, primarily occurring on dimly lit roads during nighttime hours.

Those arrested include Ritesh Kumar, Gajendra Solanki, and Pawan alias Gundi, who had been residing in a rented property in Khoda, Ghaziabad. Authorities revealed that the accused were drawn into criminal activities approximately six months after arriving in Noida, driven by a combination of drug addiction and financial pressures. Their criminal history includes prior offenses of theft and robbery in both Noida and their native districts.

Recovered items from the suspects included twelve stolen mobile phones, a car used in the commission of crimes, a country-made pistol, a knife, and live cartridges. Police are actively verifying the ownership of the recovered car and are investigating potential accomplices. The stolen mobile phones were reportedly sold at significantly reduced prices to shopkeepers in Delhi, with the illicit earnings being divided among the gang members. The operation was prompted by recent complaints detailing extortion and phone snatching incidents.