NAVI MUMBAI: Three policemen from unit 2 of the Navi Mumbai crime branch are often teased by their colleagues, who call them the ‘ lungi brigade ’ because of their recent undercover operation in Naxal-dominated Jharkhand.

To search for two jewellery thieves, sub-inspector Kiran Bhosale and constables Anil Patil and Paresh Mhatre clad themselves in lungis to merge in the crowd in the remote Udhwa and Rajmahal talukas in Sahibganj district. The thieves had broken into a jewellery shop in Kamothe, Navi Mumbai, by taking an adjacent shop on rent.

“We went from village to village in the Naxal areas for nearly 15 days posing as casual labourers in search of work. For a while we also posed as workers who had to fix mobile phone towers. We had received a specific tipoff that the thieves were hiding in these areas,” said Patil. The disguise was a must since cops are detested by many locals who support the Naxals.

The trio nabbed the accused, Nurul Haq (38), in Palasgachhi village and recovered gold and silver ornaments worth Rs 6.79 lakh from him. Soon, his accomplice was also arrested.

Senior inspector (crime) Sunil Bajare said the ‘lungi brigade’ will be awarded by the Navi Mumbai police HQ.

