Four inter-state robbers held after encounter in Mirzapur

Varanasi: In a joint operation by SOG, surveillance and the Aharaura and Adalhat police of Mirzapur district, four members of an inter-state robbers gang were arrested following a police encounter on Thursday. The police also recovered a pistol, two country-made firearms with cartridges, 3.7kg jewellery and Rs 1.4 lakh cash from their possession.According to reports, police received input that the accused, who were involved in a robbery in Bilaspur district of Chhattisgarh, were fleeing towards Varanasi via Sonbhadra Sukrit by car with the looted goods, police teams launched a checking drive by setting up a barrier.
During checking near Sonvarsa canal, two accused travelling in a car were arrested. They were identified as Vinod alias Beenu Prajapati of Kota and Karim Khan from Bareilly. On searching them, gold jewellery weighing over 1.5kg, 2 country-made firearms, 2 live cartridges, and Rs 46,100 cash were recovered. While searching for two other accused involved in the robbery, the police reached near Lakhaniya Dari forest. Seeing the cops, the accused opened fire at them. When police retaliated, Vijay Lamba, a resident of New Delhi East and Monu Gautambudhnagar suffered injuries in legs. On searching them, a country-made pistol, an empty cartridge, a live cartridge, looted gold jewellery weighing over 2.2kg and Rs1 lakh cash were recovered. The injured accused were sent to hospital for treatment.Mirzapur SP Aparna Rajat Kaushik said that a case was registered at Aharaura police station in this connection and further investigation was underway.