Between 2010 and 2012, Vedva gang, allegedly involved in various cases of loot, dacoity, rape and murder in Ahmedabad and Vadodara, had kept Gujarat Police on its toes.Its primary targets were individuals living in isolation — typically farmers, labourers, and residents of farmhouses or agricultural fields.Following their arrest, the gang members, all part of the same family, were sent to Sabarmati Central Jail in Ahmedabad when, in 2018, 10 of them were released on parole. None of them reported back to the jail.After a search that lasted over seven years, three members of the gang, all brothers, were recently arrested by the Ahmedabad Rural Police in Morbi.Mahesh alias Tendu Keshubhai Vaghri, Shanko alias Devraj Keshubhai Chunara, and Rajesh alias Kalu Keshubhai Chunara had been living in Morbi under false identities after spending several years in Rajasthan, police said.During the arrest, the family members of the accused also tried to attack the personnel, police added.Police said the accused were involved in a total of 10 serious criminal cases registered at various police stations including Viramgam, Sanand, Bopal and Bagodara in Ahmedabad Rural; Sarkhej and Odhav in Ahmedabad City; and Vadodara City.Story continues below this adPolice said the arrested trio was convicted of several counts of loot, dacoity, rape and murder.They remained absconding for a prolonged period of over seven years, said Superintendent of Police (SP) Om Prakash Jat.Their criminal history included three cases involving loot with murder, two cases involving dacoity with rape, and five cases of armed robbery and violent assaults. In two of these cases, the accused were sentenced to life imprisonment, said Ahmedabad Rural Police, which intensified the effort to apprehend the gang members around a year ago.The gang’s primary targets were individuals living in isolation, said SP Jat, adding, “In many cases, if the victims resisted, the gang inflicted serious injuries, often resulting in death.”Story continues below this adUpon receiving intelligence that some of the absconding convicts were residing in Morbi city under false identities, a police team was formed comprising Police Sub-Inspector R B Rathod and five constables. The team proceeded to Morbi for surveillance and further investigation.During the operation, it was discovered that the accused were living in residential units within a complex near the Mahendranagar water tank in Morbi, said police. Approximately 20 such shop-like structures were being used as makeshift residences, with open surroundings that could facilitate escape, they added. “The area was tactically cordoned off, and while the police were checking the premises, the convicts attempted to flee upon sighting the personnel,” said police.SI Rathod said, “Two people ran from the premises and were identified and placed under arrest. The third was caught shortly after.”During this operation, the family members of the convicts attacked the police in a bid to help the convicts escape, officers said.Story continues below this adSP Jat said the police team used appropriate force to control the situation, disperse the crowd, and ensure the safe custody of the arrested individuals.A statement from the Ahmedabad Rural Police said that during interrogation, it was revealed that three other absconding co-accused— namely Keshu Hemabhai Chunara and Bhura Keshubhai Chunara (residents of Saida), and Raju Luvji Jiliya (resident of Nadiyana, Viramgam) — had died while on the run. Legal steps have been initiated to remove their names from official jail records.Further investigation to arrest the other convicts is underway.