Village of Crime: The Dark Side of Economic Prosperity in Madhya Pradesh

Three villages in Madhya Pradesh's Rajgarh district—Kadiya Sansi, Gulkhedi, and Hulkhedi—stand out for their illegal activities. Known for their economic prosperity fueled by crime, these villages have around 1,000-1,200 criminal cases against their residents. Despite frequent police raids, arresting these criminals remains challenging.

Three villages in Madhya Pradesh's Rajgarh district—Kadiya Sansi, Gulkhedi, and Hulkhedi—are notorious for their substantial criminal activities, despite appearing economically prosperous. One recent incident involved a 14-year-old boy stealing valuables worth Rs 1.45 crore at a wedding in Jaipur, putting these villages in the national spotlight.

Local police estimate that 1,000-1,200 criminal cases have been filed against residents from these villages, particularly Kadiya Sansi. Attempts to arrest suspects often meet resistance, including attacks on visiting police teams, making enforcement difficult. Residents claim easy money drives their involvement in criminal activities, with theft and loot being common pursuits.

The Rajgarh police have arrested 25 members of a local gang and seized goods worth Rs 4.37 crore in the past six months. However, the village's leadership denies widespread criminality, insisting that most locals are law-abiding citizens engaged in respectable jobs.

(With inputs from agencies.)