NEW DELHI: The Uttar Pradesh Police on Sunday had taken into custody 15 persons, all of them belonging to a nomadic tribe, last evening and interrogated them in the brutal gangrape of a woman and her teenage daughter by bandits on gunpoint on Friday night after dragging the family out of a car.

Three of the those held who belonged to Bawariya gang have been identified by the victims and all the culprits would be booked under the stringent National Security Act (NSA).

Who are Bawariyas:

  • The Bawarias are a nomadic tribe scattered over North India. They are traditionally hunters and cruel by nature. 

  • They Camp by the roadside away from the population.

  • The Bawariyas move in different groups and their group can have 5 to 10 members.

  • Wherever they plan an attack -in a city or village- they make their headquarter nearby.

  • On the day of Diwali, after prayers, Bawariyas leave their native places to carry out attacks.

  • During day time they live like 'Banjaras' and keep changing their locations.

  • The Bawariyas are also known as 'Chaddi Banian Gang', who strike wearing only undergarment.

  • For their safety Bawariyas put lubricant or oil on their bodies which makes it hard to capture them.

  • They wander and roam around as beggars to identify potential houses to attack.

  • The Bawariyas carry rods, axes, and knives. They attack multiple houses and then move to a different place.

  • The Bawariyas leave their excreta, as a ritual, at the place of attack.