Multiple arrests in UP after encounters; weapons and loot seized

Lucknow: Police in Rae Bareli, Unnao, Hardoi and Lakhimpur Kheri conducted coordinated crackdowns on hardened criminals, leading to multiple arrests after separate encounters.

Senior officers said local police, Special Operations Groups (SOG), SWAT teams and surveillance units carried out joint operations. Illegal firearms, live cartridges, looted jewellery, motorcycles, mobile phones and cash linked to robbery and snatching cases were recovered.

In Rae Bareli, a joint team of Bachhrawan police and SOG/surveillance unit launched a checking drive near the Sharda canal culvert on Shivgarh Road on specific inputs. When two motorcycle-borne suspects were stopped, they allegedly tried to flee and opened fire after being surrounded. Police retaliated, injuring both before arresting them.

Those arrested were Sonu alias Shivsahay Singh of Pratapgarh and Chandrashekhar Kesarwani alias Golu of Amethi. During questioning, they allegedly confessed to a chain-snatching near Karanpur village on May 6. Police recovered a .32-bore pistol, a .315-bore country-made firearm, live cartridges, looted jewellery, Rs 20,200 and the motorcycle used in the crime.

Officials said both are history-sheeters with multiple serious cases. Chandrashekhar faces cases under the IPC, Gangster Act, Arms Act and NDPS Act, among others, while Sonu is also wanted in robbery and attempted murder cases.

In Unnao, Fatehpur Chaurasi police, along with SWAT and surveillance teams, arrested two robbery accused after an exchange of fire on May 16. Acting on inputs, police intercepted the suspects, who allegedly opened fire. Both sustained bullet injuries in the legs in retaliatory action and were admitted to the district hospital.

The accused were identified as Rajeev Kashyap alias Rajmajan of Kanpur Nagar and Guddu alias Munna alias Sehraj of Unnao. Police recovered a .315-bore country-made pistol, live cartridges, spent shells and robbery-related items. Rajeev has 14 criminal cases against him, while Guddu has 33, police said.

In Hardoi, Sandi police solved a jewellery-snatching case. Complainant Amit Kumar alleged that motorcycle-borne assailants snatched a gold earring from his sister-in-law near Jagdishpur Road in Saitiyapur village while the family was travelling to attend a wedding.

In Kheri, police arrested three members of a robbery-cum-snatching gang after an encounter near Ravahi bridge on the Sharda River on Sunday. Two of them sustained bullet injuries after allegedly opening fire on police. Recoveries included firearms, stolen motorcycles, mobile phones, ATM and Aadhaar cards, knives and Rs 6,350 cash. The accused were wanted in multiple cases at Kotwali Sadar and Kheri police stations.