“The gang involves mainly women and is headed by a eunuch — Muskan Begum alias Hogla — and it has an Orissa connection also. We are trying to find out whether it has any other past criminal record or not,” said Deputy Commissioner (Detective Department) Jawed Shamim.

On March 23, a lot of valuables, including gold and diamond jewellery, silver coins worth over Rs 70 lakh, and Rs 95,000 in cash were stolen by them from the locked rented accommodation of one Murari Lal.

Jarina Khatoon and Nurjahan were arrested from their hideout in M G Road, Kolkata, while Shabnam Begum, Jeba, Manu Begum and Kiran Biwi were arrested from Malgodam in Orissa.

The gang had delivered the robed items to one Uttam Ghosal, who was arrested from his Taltolla home.

According to the police, the gang had a unique modus operandi. It had a good information network and preyed on unsuspecting households. They would choose a time when the apartment of the house is locked, mostly afternoons, for their operation.

While one group, with babies in their arms, would stand in front of the gate and not only keep a watch but also stop others from entering the apartment, the other would carry on with their “operation” inside the house.

“Being an all-women group, no one suspected them. They were good in breaking open locks to enter houses,” said an officer of the Detective Department.