Police Encounter Leads to Arrest of Three Wanted Criminals in Bhadohi
In a dramatic early morning operation, police in Bhadohi district successfully apprehended three notorious criminals following an intense exchange of gunfire near the Kothra bypass area. The incident occurred under the jurisdiction of the Aurai police station, marking a significant breakthrough in the district's ongoing efforts to combat organized crime.
Early Morning Police Operation
According to Bhadohi Superintendent of Police Abhimanyu Manglik, the operation began around 2:10 AM when Aurai police personnel were conducting routine vehicle checks. Acting on specific intelligence from informants regarding the movement of wanted robbers involved in multiple loot incidents across the district, police swiftly mobilized to intercept the suspects.
Police cordoned off the Kothra Bypass Road and attempted to stop the vehicle carrying the alleged criminals as it passed through the area. When the suspects realized their car was surrounded by law enforcement officers, they abandoned their vehicle and attempted to flee on foot while opening fire at the police team.
Exchange of Fire and Arrest
The police immediately returned fire in what SP Manglik described as retaliatory action. During the brief but intense exchange, all three suspects sustained bullet injuries to their legs, effectively incapacitating them and preventing their escape. Police personnel quickly secured the area and provided medical assistance to the injured individuals.
Following the apprehension, authorities conducted a thorough search of the suspects and their vehicle, recovering significant evidence including:
- Two country-made firearms
- Multiple cartridges
- Mobile phones
- The vehicle used in the crime
- Cash amounting to approximately Rs 8,000
The injured suspects were immediately transported to a local hospital for medical treatment under police supervision.
Identification and Criminal History
The arrested individuals were identified as Pankaj Rao, Sarvesh Singh, and Saqlain, all residents of Kushinagar district. A preliminary investigation into their criminal backgrounds revealed extensive involvement in organized crime across multiple districts of Uttar Pradesh.
Police records indicate staggering numbers of cases registered against each suspect:
- Pankaj Rao faces 28 separate cases of loot and robbery
- Sarvesh Singh has 13 registered cases against him
- Saqlain is implicated in 27 different criminal cases
Confession and Recent Crime Details
During interrogation following their arrest, the three suspects confessed to multiple criminal activities, including a particularly disturbing incident that occurred on February 17. According to their admission, they targeted an elderly individual who had just withdrawn Rs 49,000 from a bank in the Aurai area.
The criminals offered the victim a ride home, only to push him out of their vehicle after forcibly taking his cash near the Ghosiya overbridge. They then fled the scene, leaving the elderly person stranded without the substantial sum he had just withdrawn from the bank.
This successful police operation represents a significant victory for law enforcement in Bhadohi district, removing three dangerous criminals with extensive criminal histories from the streets. The coordinated response based on intelligence information demonstrates improved policing techniques in the region, while the recovery of weapons and evidence will likely lead to further investigations and potentially solve numerous pending criminal cases across Uttar Pradesh.
