A trio involved in thefts targeting women on express trains since November has been arrested by the Government Railway Police (GRP). The prime accused, Mahesh Arun Ghag, 32, who walks with a limp, would steal purses, gold, and mobile phones before slipping away unnoticed. His accomplices, Tanaji Shivaji Mane, 45, and Nitin Kishan Yele, 44, jewellers from Zaveri Bazar, bought the stolen gold. A total of 108 grams of gold were recovered from them, worth over Rs 8.64 lakh.

Explaining the modus operandi, Senior Inspector Vijay Khedkar of the Crime Branch said, “The suspect would walk slowly inside express trains at night, steal valuables at an unhurried pace, and then get down at Kalyan railway station in the same manner. The other two accused, gold jewellery dealers from Zaveri Bazar in south Mumbai, would buy the stolen gold jewellery from Mahesh.”