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San Joaquin Police urge diaspora support to tackle Indian-origin gang members
Eight men have been arrested, all of whom are of Indian descent.
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Jeffin T. Kaleekal - Sat, 19, Jul 2025
- 02:21 EDT
- 36
A multi-agency press brief was organized to urge support against the alleged Indian origin perpetrators / Screengrab from the San Joaquin County Sheriff's media briefing
Eight Indian-origin men have been arrested on multiple felony charges, including kidnapping and torture, in a major crackdown led by San Joaquin County Police in coordination with several law enforcement agencies. Authorities are now urging the Indian diaspora to come forward with any information about Indian-origin gangs operating in the region.
The crime related to these eight arrested men occurred on June 19 in the Manteca area. An adult male victim was allegedly kidnapped, stripped naked, bound, and tortured for an extended time. The victim got away and was able to share his account with law enforcement.
The law enforcement agencies said that they became aware through community tips and working in conjunction with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. They were subsequently arrested on July 11.
ALSO READ: 8 Indian-origin men arrested in gang related kidnapping case
San Joaquin County Sheriff Patrick Withrow said, during a media briefing on July 18, “They clearly were trying to get information from him regarding other members of the community that they could possibly victimize, and they were using horrendous means.”
He added, “We didn’t know if he [the victim] would have survived this or not.”
As per Special Agent Sid Patel of the FBI, the leader of the gang, Pavittar Singh, is wanted in India for multiple serious criminal charges, including arms violations and murder.
Talking about the arrested individuals, Withrow commented, "They should go where they belong, that's in prison and I don't care whether it is here or it is in India."
The law enforcement agencies also sought support from the Indian diaspora communities and said, "The information here is intended to try and raise awareness with the Indian community and our own community. The individuals who are committing these crimes are dedicated to using violence and any means necessary to get what they need and are a clear threat to our community."
In an appeal for support, he continued, "The primary reason I wanted to hold this media conference was to hopefully speak directly to and get the attention of our Indian community here in San Joaquin County."
He added, "I know this group of criminals is terrorizing you and sometimes you hesitate to call law enforcement, but without you, without your involvement, we may not have brought this group of animals to justice."
The county police have also set up a specialized number for giving information on this case anonymously. The Sheriff said, “We need the Indian community and other members of the community to reach out and give us information.”
The suspects, ranging from their mid-20s to 40s, were taken into custody during raids across multiple cities, including Stockton’s Brookside area, Manteca, and areas of Stanislaus County. During their investigation, authorities recovered five handguns, an assault rifle, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, multiple high-capacity magazines, and more than $15,000 in cash. The police have claimed that more members of this gang are on the run and have sought support for capturing them.
Anonymous tips can be made at (209) 507-6888.
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