No freedom yet for Thimma of notorious Dandupalya gang

Dandupalya Gang was a notorious group of men and women who targeted lonely houses Thimma then a minor was arrested along with gang members High Court had recently ordered his release

Thimma (34) of notorious Dandupalya gang who was hoping to get out of the prisons – following the high court divisional bench order – will have to stay some more time behind the bars.

The High Court of Karnataka had recently directed to release Thimma - considering that he had served 18 years of sentence. But Thimma has another case pending in the High Court – his appeal against life imprisonment – and he has ten more years of sentence in a robbery case.

Considering these cases, Hindalga prison officials in Belagavi have ruled out his release from the prison. Unless these cases are cleared, his release is out of question, clarified the prisons officials, reports Kannada Prabha. It may be recalled here that Thimma had claimed that he was a minor (15 years) when police had arrested him along with the gang in 1998. As per the law, minors are awarded only three years of punishment. Since he has already served 18 years in prison, he had appealed for his release.

Thimma was arrested along with the notorious Dandupalya gang member for robbery and murder of Halasuru Ranganath in Bengaluru April 23, 1998.

The Dandupalya Gang's notoriety still sends shivers down the spine of  Bengalureans. The gang who were all relatives had women members too who were no less brutal in committing the crime. The gang mostly operated in Bengaluru, Kolar, KGF, Mandya and even in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

Women especially would scout lonely houses in the guise of bangle sellers during the day. They would disconnect the power and telephone cable and even bolt the neighbours' house too before attacking the target. After robbing, they would slit victims' throat, which was one of their trademarks.

The gang has hacked 18 women to death and even senior citizens in and around Bengaluru. The members who are housed in Hindalga jail in Belagavi have been sentenced to gallows by the court.