Who are the Thak Thak Gang, behind the recent Pragati Maidan tunnel robbery in Delhi?

A shocking incident unfolded in the national capital as a notorious gang, believed to be the Thak Thak gang, targeted a delivery agent and his assistant inside the Pragati Maidan tunnel. The brazen robbery occurred in broad daylight when the victims were en route to Gurugram in a cab, transporting Rs 2 lakh, reported PTI.

The heist

• Caught on CCTV and shared on social media, the video depicts four armed robbers on two motorcycles intercepting the white cab carrying the delivery agent and his assistant.

• At gunpoint, the robbers quickly seized their bag of cash and made a swift getaway. Surprisingly, despite several onlookers witnessing the incident, no one intervened or aided the victims, likely due to the robbers' possession of firearms.

What's with the name?

• The term "Thak Thak" refers to the colloquial phrase "knock knock." Gang members typically employ tactics like knocking or using catapults to create distractions by striking car windows.
• These distractions are designed to momentarily confuse or disorient the victims, diverting their attention.
• While the victims are caught off guard, the gang members swiftly pilfer their belongings, such as bags, wallets, and mobile phones.
• The Thak Thak gang primarily operates in North India, particularly in various localities of Delhi, Gurugram, Ludhiana, and other cities.
• Regarding the frequency of their robberies, these criminals often go underground after committing a crime, resurfacing in different cities or locations after a few months or years.
• However, it should be noted that the term "Thak Thak Gang" may not always refer to a specific criminal organization but rather an operational method employed by small groups. Consequently, obtaining reliable data on their prevalence proves challenging.

Their major heists

• After nearly three years of their deeds in Gurugram, last year(2022) saw the resurgence of such strikes on cars on streets and markets in the city.
• Back in 2019, robbers stole a bag from the car of an Additional Sessions Judge in Delhi's Okhla.
• The same year, four robbers assaulted and robbed actor Farheen Prabhakar of her wallet and mobile phones when she was on her way to Select City Walk in South Delhi.
• In October 2021, a police officer's car in Dwarka, Delhi, was broken into, and both his laptop and uniform were stolen in the same fashion.
• In 2019, a Congress party spokesperson, in Delhi became the target of notorious robbers when a group of four men riding a motorcycle absconded with her purse, containing an estimated Rs 60,000.

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Action and reaction

• Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi), Pranav Tayal, confirmed that the victims, employed as delivery agents at Omiya Enterprises in Chandni Chowk, filed a complaint at the Tilak Marg police station.
• According to the complaint, the victims had hired an Ola cab from Lal Qila and were ambushed inside the tunnel on the road to Gurugram.
• A case has been registered under the Indian Penal Code (IPC)'s sections 397 (robbery or dacoity with intent to cause death or serious harm) and 34 (common intention by a group of individuals).
• The police interrogated the victims, their employer, and other employees to determine if the robbery was an inside job, DCP Tayal told the PTI.

• Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal expressed his outrage over the incident, demanding the resignation of Lt. Governor VK Saxena and criticising the central government for its failure to ensure the safety of Delhi residents.