Gonda,

24 Nov (HS): Five suspected members of a robbery gang were apprehended during

an exchange of fire with police in Gonda, in which two were hurt, authorities

said Monday. The

Chhapia police, Special Operations Group (SOG), and surveillance team conducted

the combined operation late Sunday night after receiving information that the

suspects in a recent heist were gathering near Tairwa Bazaar to plan another

crime, according to Superintendent of Police Vineet Jaiswal. The police put up

a roadblock on the Chhapia-Parsurampur route near the temple and sought to halt

two motorbikes. The motorcyclists opened fire, sparking retaliation that

resulted in the shooting of Kismat Ali alias Baba and Vikas Sharma in the leg,

according to SP.

Both

were brought to the hospital and then sent to the medical college for

additional care. The police then arrested three others: Pawan Verma of

Jagdishpur, Alimuddin of Ghoornpur, and Lavkesh Yadav of Chakia village. They found two country-made pistols, ammo,

two motorbikes used in the crime, a laptop, and Rs 3 lakh in cash. According to

the SP, the arrests resulted in a breakthrough in the November 15 heist, in

which the suspects stole a bag containing Rs 5 lakh, a laptop, and a

fingerprint machine from Ramkumar Verma, who manages a State Bank customer

service center at Birpur Bharpurwa Bazaar in the Chhapia police station area.

All

of the accused are under the age of 25, and during interrogation, they

reportedly acknowledged to operating as an organized gang engaged in robberies

for financial gain, Jaiswal added. They

also admitted to committing another crime on October 21 in the Parsurampur

region of Basti district. Cases have been filed against them under the

appropriate laws, and additional legal action is being pursued, according to

the SP.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi