GHAZIABAD: The Government Railway Police (GRP) on Friday arrested a criminal carrying a reward of Rs 25,000 on his head. The accused, Devanand (34), led a gang of 25 thieves who robbed train passengers of their belongings. He is also accused of smuggling liquor to the dry state of Bihar through trains from Anand Vihar and New Delhi railway stations.Police said Devanand along with his aide Sunil Bihari had been active in Delhi NCR for the past two decades and had gone to the jail in the past in similar cases. He had as many as 11 cases of robbery registered in Delhi, Ghaziabad and Aligarh.“Devanand’s criminal activity started when he was just 14 years of age when he was lodged to an observation home for two-and-half years for a crime. He started smuggling and selling drugs and alcohol with his accomplice Sunil soon after coming out of the observation home. In a short time, he formed his gang and started committing robberies in trains,” said SHO, GRP, Somvir Singh.Singh added that over the years Devanand has amassed huge wealth and was leading a lavish life. He has brought several plots of land in his native place in Bihar.He moved around in SUVs including Scorpio and Honda City, and got contracts of operating around 12 stalls on Delhi Metro stations in the name of his relatives. Moreover, he has recently deposited around Rs 80 lakh to get tenders of operating stalls in Mumbai Monorail as well, he added.The GRP has announced the reward of Rs 25,000 on his head just last month.

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