Chandigarh: Panchkula Police has short listed three gangs of robbers largely operating in Punjab who as per indications investigated so far committed the daring robbery involving a loot of Rs. 1.68 crores on the Chandigarh-Baddi highway.

The police suspect the involvement of some policemen’s kins and the role of a woman robber has also come to light. Investigation into the case has led to zeroing on three dreaded gangs of Punjab who have their roots in Moga, Firozepur, Taran-Taran, Rupar andPatiala and who are known to have donned the police uniforms while committing such robberies besides throwing chilly powder on the victims.

The police have profiled these gangs after technical surveillance, modes operandi and the criminals being not found at their place of residence. The role of some jailed robbers too cannot be ruled out. One such suspected gang has hideouts in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. Raids have been conducted during the preceding week at about a dozen places in Punjab besides the other two states. One team is working on the theory if a couple of robbers have sneaked intoNepal. Many of the suspected criminals are already on the radar of the Punjab Police.