Eastern Rajasthan still in grip of dacoit gangs

JAIPUR: Even after the surrender of notorious Jagan Gujjar, the border districts of eastern Rajasthan, including Dholpur, Karauli, Bharatpur and
Sawai Madhopur, are still in grip of six dacoit gangs, including the gang headed by Jagan's brother.
Rajasthan police has claimed that the dacoits would either be eliminated or arrested as soon as the panchayat polls are over and police relaunch the anti-dacoity campaign. The dacoits, once again, challenged the police in Dholpur on Tuesday night when Mukesh Rajput and Pappu Gujjar fired on each other, injuring two villagers.
IG (Bharatpur Range) Madhusudan Singh told TOI that three notorious gangs, including the Gujjar gang (led by Jagan's brother), Pappu Gujjar and Mukesh Thakur were still active in the region. Besides, there are three smaller gangs in the eastern part of the state, he said. These gangs flee to Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh when chased.
Though Jagan Gujjar (40), who carried reward of Rs 11.50 lakh, surrendered in Karauli in February 2009 but his men are still running the gang. Wanted in 32 cases by Rajasthan police, in 12 and 6 cases by Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh police, Gujjar assured the police his men would surrender with arms and ammunition but it did not happen. His brothers, heading the gang after Jagan, still possesses sophisticated weapons including AK-47.
Singh claimed the days of existing gangs are numbered as the police would soon move against them after the panchayat polls.
Regarding gang war in Dholpur village, he said the incident occurred soon after the security force was withdrawn from the area for panchayat poll duty. They were withdrawn as the department was hard pressed and extra deployment was required at other locations, he said.
However, now the departments planned to redeploy the force and curb the dacoits. He said forces have been deployed at strategic location to keep tab on the gangs.