Chaddi Banian Gang (also known as Kachcha baniyan gang) refers to certain organized criminal gangs in several parts of India. The Chaddi Banian Gangs are violent gangs who attack wearing only underclothes which in the local language are referred to as chaddi or kachcha whose literal translation in English is underwear and baniyan translates to vests. They often mask their faces. They put oil or mud on their body as lubricants which makes it hard to capture them.
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Modus Operandi
They move around in groups of 5-6 or 8-10. In the daytime they wear kurta and lungi, and stay at a railway station, bus stand or empty plot of a colony. They wander as beggars of laborers to identify potential houses to attack. They attack multiple houses and then move to a different town.
They tie up the family members and if opposed murder them. They carry rods, axes, knives and country firearms. They sometimes eat at the house and leave excreta there as a ritual.
They are suspected to have robbed some temples also. Sometime they rent a car to get around.
Identity
In several cases, the members of the gang have been identified as members of the Phase Pardhi tribe. In some cases the culprits are found to include Pardhi community as well as some others.
Incidents
They have been reported since 1999. They have been active in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and even Andhra Pradesh.
Arrests
They are rarely caught. It is believed that they are "khanabadosh" (nomads).
Chaddi baniyan gang arrested after a siege with police at Borivali