Robber arrested after police encounter in Chandauli

Varanasi: Chandauli police on Thursday arrested a criminal wanted in a robbery case after an encounter in Chakiya police station area. He was shot in the leg during an exchange of firing with the police and was admitted to hospital.

The police seized an illegal firearm, cartridges, cash and a motorcycle found in his possession.

According to reports, on May 27, Pooja Devi of Basadhi village and operator of a jewellery shop located in Basadhi village submitted a written complaint of a robbery at Chakiya police station. In her complaint, she stated that three youths arrived at her shop on a motorcycle posing as customers. One of them had covered his face with a gamchha.

While one of them began bargaining, another youth pulled down the shop’s shutter, and they all tried to snatch the locker keys from her, she said. They took Rs 5,000 from the cashbox while pointing a country-made pistol at her. When she resisted, they assaulted her.

She raised an alarm, after which some locals and police personnel present at the adjacent bank immediately arrived at the spot and caught two of them. One managed to flee the scene.

A silver chain, Rs 1,600 cash, an illegal firearm, one cartridge and the motorcycle used in the incident were found in their possession. On the basis of the complaint, a case was registered under Section 309 BNS and Section 3/25 Arms Act.

A police team led by station house officer Arjun Singh interrogated the arrested accused, Manish Kumar Yadav. While the police team proceeded with him to recover the firearm and cartridges, Manish suddenly opened fire on police. In self-defence, police retaliated, injuring the accused in his right leg. He was taken to hospital for treatment, where he is currently being treated.