Thieves who acted deaf and dumb held

02.03.2017

Identified as Yarrampalli alias Anil, 18, and V Babu, 20, the two couldn't speak a word of Hindi or English and had adopted an ingenious modus operandi to loot people in the Capital

As many as four cases of theft in south Delhi were solved when two youths from Chitoor in Andhra Pradesh were arrested on Tuesday.

Identified as Yarrampalli alias Anil, 18, and V Babu, 20, the two couldn't speak a word of Hindi or English and had adopted an ingenious modus operandi to loot people in the Capital. They would knock on the doors with a pamphlet in hand, which would state that they were deaf and dumb, and were spreading awareness regarding the condition.

They would then ask for a small donation, and when people turned their backs to get money from inside, they would enter the house and pick up valuables such as mobile phones and laptops.

"The duo would force people to come out and read the pamphet. The victims would open the door of their house and fall prey," Additional Deputy Commsiioner of Police (south) Chinmoy Biswas said.

Sources said earlier the Gurugram Police had arrested them but they could not be interrogated due to the language barrier. The court then let them off.

Then earlier this month, a person staying on rent in the Sainik Farms area complained to the police. Acting on the plaint, the Delhi police identified the youths and contacted the Gurugram Police as well. The two were living near the Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station. Initially, they misled the police by claming that they did not understand Hindi but Sub-Inspector Anil Rathod, who hails from Hyderabad and can speak fluent Telugu, questioned them and the duo spilled the beans.

During interrogation, Babu revealed that his elder brother Kartik brought them from their native place last month to carry out the thefts. Police said Kartik was likely to be arrested soon and further investigation was underway.