HYDERABAD: Most wanted train thief Tanedar Singh arrested
HYDERABAD: The Government Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Protection Force (RPF) at Secunderabad on November 7 arrested Tanedar Singh, a most wanted thief accused of stealing valuables from passengers on trains. Police recovered eight tolas of gold, ₹3,000 in cash, a knife, and three mobile phones from him. Railway SP Chandanadeepthi said Singh, a native of Arni village in Khair taluka, Aligarh district, Uttar Pradesh, had been involved in thefts for nearly 21 years.
From petty thefts to organised robberies
Singh studied up to Class 3. In 2004, he began selling cigarettes and snacks at Pune railway station while also committing petty thefts. He later decided to take up crime full time and settled in Vikarabad.
In 2009, he married Guddi Devi from Rajasthan. The couple has a son and a daughter. His wife often assisted him in his crimes. Singh also invested his illegal earnings in cricket betting.
In 2007, he was arrested by Banjara Hills police while staying at a Yousufguda lodge after cutting passengers’ pockets at Vikarabad railway station. After his release, he was again arrested by Solapur police in Maharashtra in 2012 for multiple theft cases and served 11 months in jail.
Escalation to armed crime and drug peddling
In 2014, Singh formed a gang with Bolonath Paikarav and Javed. They procured a firearm and attempted a robbery on the Aurangabad–Hyderabad passenger train near Zaheerabad, but fled after passengers retaliated. His associates were later arrested.
Between 2019 and 2021, Singh operated in Vikarabad, Raichur and Zaheerabad, attacking GRP personnel with blades while evading arrest. He was eventually caught in Begumpet following a police tip-off.
In 2021, he escaped from Mahbubnagar police custody shortly after being detained in another theft case. Later, Singh and his wife were arrested by Vikarabad railway police for transporting 28 kg of ganja on the LTT Express.
Caught again with stolen gold
Police said Singh was found hiding at Bharatnagar railway station and arrested on Thursday. He has so far been jailed in 62 cases, including 13 in which he allegedly threatened passengers.
Railway SP Chandanadeepthi said Singh was one of the most notorious inter-state train thieves and had repeatedly escaped custody in the past.
