Azamgarh Police Encounter Nets Inter-District Drug and Robbery Gang Members
In a significant crackdown on organized crime, Azamgarh police encountered an inter-district drug and robbery gang in the Kaptanganj police station area on Wednesday night. The operation resulted in one gang member sustaining a bullet injury, while two others were apprehended by the authorities. Police recovered an illegal firearm, cartridges, and a cache of stolen goods from the criminals' possession, marking a crucial breakthrough in combating such activities in the region.
Police Action and Encounter Details
During a routine drive to monitor suspicious persons and vehicles, a police team led by Kaptanganj SHO Jay Prakash received actionable intelligence. The information indicated that criminals involved in drugging and robbing incidents were active near Gaura Puliya. Swiftly responding, the police cordoned off the area to intercept the suspects.
Upon spotting the police team, the criminals opened fire in a bid to escape. In retaliatory action, one criminal was hit by a bullet in the right leg, leading to his incapacitation. Police managed to arrest two criminals from the scene, although two others managed to flee under the cover of darkness. The injured individual was promptly transported to a hospital for medical treatment.
Identities and Criminal Background
The injured criminal has been identified as Aman Nishad, a resident of Dahi Shambhupur village. The two arrested individuals are Anand alias Babi and Ankit Nishad, both hailing from Azamgarh district. During subsequent interrogation, the arrested criminals confessed to their involvement in a series of criminal incidents across the Kaptanganj and Ahraula police station areas.
Their criminal activities included a particularly heinous act on January 24, where they offered laddoos laced with a narcotic substance to a woman and other individuals in Bhawanipatti village. After the victims were incapacitated, the gang snatched a gold nose pin from the woman and fled the scene. An FIR under Section 123/304 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) has been registered at Kaptanganj police station in connection with this incident.
Series of Burglaries and Thefts
The gang's criminal spree extended to multiple burglaries over subsequent nights. On the night of January 25/26, Aman Nishad, Anand, and Ravi Kumar targeted a shop at Hetuganj market. They stole cash, soap, oil, cigarettes, pulses, and cashew-almonds, later dividing the stolen cash among themselves. An FIR under Section 331(4)/305 BNS was filed at Kaptanganj police station for this crime.
Continuing their illicit activities, on the night of January 27, the same trio broke into a grocery shop in Bhaisa Turpati village under the Ahraula police station area. They made off with a sack of arhar dal, mustard oil, and refined oil. In response, FIR No. 20/2026 under Section 305(A)/331(4) BNS was registered at Police Station Ahraula.
Recovered Items and Legal Proceedings
Police have successfully recovered a substantial amount of evidence from the arrested criminals. The seized items include a country-made pistol, a live cartridge, an empty cartridge, burglary tools, the stolen nose pin, soap, cigarettes, surf powder, approximately 10 kg of arhar dal, refined oil, mustard oil, and Rs 5,300 in cash. A comprehensive case has been registered against the arrested individuals under Section 3(5)/109(1) BNS and Sections 3/25/27 of the Arms Act.
Azamgarh ASP Chirag Jain emphasized that necessary evidence collection and other legal procedures have been diligently carried out by the field unit. Police teams are currently conducting intensive raids across the region to apprehend the remaining absconding criminals and bring them to justice.
