5 members of inter-state burglary gang held in Gaya

Gaya: Police on Thursday arrested five members of an inter-state gang of burglars, who were operating in the Vishnupad temple area during the ongoing Pitripaksh Mela. Among those arrested, one hails from Wardhwan while the remaining four are residents of Purulia district in West Bengal, said police.

Gaya SSP, Anand Kumar, said, “Police personnel deployed in the Mela area noticed a group of men fleeing while a pilgrim cried out for help. The suspects — Kundan Singh from Barabani police station in Wardhwan, and Dev Kumar, Banwari Singh, Golu Kumar, and Ghanshyam Singh from Balrampur police station area in Purulia — were chased down and arrested by the police.”

During interrogation, the accused confessed that they worked for a gang involved in theft and snatching incidents, targeting women pilgrims in temples and crowded areas by exploiting the large gatherings. Police recovered Rs 3,680 in cash and two pocket purses from their possession.

The SSP added, “Given the massive gathering of pilgrims, we have deployed both male and female officers — in uniform and plain clothes — across the entire Mela area, stretching from Vishnupad temple to Pretshila in the north and Bodh Gaya in the south, to maintain crowd control and ensure the safety of devotees.”