Hyderabad cops catch old offenders in new disguises
HYDERABAD: Old offenders and rowdy-sheeters in Hyderabad are adopting new identities and disguises to evade the police, with some drawing inspiration from scenes and characters in films and web series.
Some are obtaining fake identity cards and shifting to other places to escape non-bailable warrants. They stay at different locations and contact associates using phones belonging to acquaintances, gathering information about police movements. Once they suspect that they are being watched, they move to another area.
Fake identities help offenders evade police surveillance
Some offenders have gone a step further by changing their appearance and mannerisms. The Hyderabad Task Force has intensified efforts to trace old offenders and rowdy-sheeters who have remained on the run for 10 to 15 years, leading to a series of arrests.
Police arrested 55 such offenders in the first six months of the year and identified the whereabouts of another 30, according to the report.
A senior police officer said the tactics adopted by rowdy-sheeters to evade the police and courts had surprised investigators. During questioning, police noticed that scenes and characters from films and web series appeared to have influenced some of the methods used by the offenders, the officer said.
According to police records, Hyderabad has 1,527 rowdy-sheeters. Around 200 of them continue to create trouble over disputes, civil issues and real estate dealings.
Fake lawyer identity helps man evade police since 2009
Baja Aneesuddin alias Sameer, 47, from the Aramghar area of Hyderabad, has a rowdy sheet at the Shalibanda police station. He allegedly assumed the identity of a lawyer using fake identification documents and another lawyer’s enrolment number.
He also employed a young man who had completed Class 6 as a junior lawyer, according to the report.
Police had been searching for Aneesuddin since 2009. Charminar Task Force personnel learnt that he was coming to a court to argue a case and arrested him.
Wanted man poses as baba at mosque in Sangareddy
Mohammed Sher Javed, 33, a resident of MS Maqta in Somajiguda, supported his family by doing painting work. After becoming addicted to drugs, his wife and children left him. A rowdy sheet was opened against him at the Lake police station.
He was an accused in a murder case registered in the Saifabad police station limits. After a court issued a non-bailable warrant against him, he shifted his base.
He allegedly planned to ensure that nobody recognised him and that even if police arrived, they would not suspect him. He moved to Sangareddy district, reached his grandmother’s village and assumed the role of a baba at the Pironki mosque.
Carrying a stick, he allegedly told people that he could drive away ghosts and evil spirits. After dark, he would allegedly use ganja.
The Khairatabad Task Force team noticed his photograph on Facebook and began making inquiries, eventually uncovering his identity. When police went to arrest him, they faced resistance from local residents.
The residents backed off only after police explained his old cases, including the murder case.
Javed in baba disguise
Fake cop identity fails as offender plans Nepal escape
Another old offender, who was allegedly involved in murder cases and robberies, obtained a fake Aadhaar card and planned to travel to Nepal after posing as a police officer.
The plan failed because he continued to remain in contact with old associates despite changing his phone, according to police. He was subsequently taken into custody.
Vaishnav Kishan Das alias Ganesh Maharaj, a most-wanted rowdy-sheeter who had been on the run for 14 years in the Sultan Bazar police station limits, was recently arrested by police. He has 21 cases against him. He changed his name to Ganesh Maharaj and established a base in Chandrayangutta.
Another rowdy-sheeter, Sheikh Sohail Abdullah, had been evading police since 2015. He was arrested by the Bairathabad Task Force police in Changi Cherla a few days ago.
