Police Arrest Woman in Bhagalpur, Seize Arms and Cash in Criminal Gang Raid
In a significant operation, Bhagalpur police arrested 30-year-old Meena Devi, who is allegedly part of a husband-wife criminal gang, during an early Sunday raid at Lailakh village under the Sabour police station area. The police team recovered a country-made pistol, a musket, 62 live cartridges, Rs4.20 lakh in cash, and several liquor bottles from her hideout. However, her husband, Janaklal Mandal, managed to escape, according to police officials.
Intelligence-Led Operation
Bhagalpur SSP Pramod Kumar Yadav had received classified information on February 14 about a possible crime being planned by the couple in connivance with other criminals. Based on this input, he formed a nine-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by the Sabour Station House Officer to verify the information and arrest those involved.
The SIT began technical surveillance and conducted raids at various locations in Lailakh village. After confirming the exact hideout in the diara area, the team raided it on Saturday evening, arrested the woman, and seized arms, ammunition, liquor bottles, and a large amount of cash.
Ongoing Investigation
SSP Pramod Kumar Yadav stated, "Further investigation is underway. We are examining the criminal history of the arrested woman and her husband. We are also trying to ascertain the nature of the planned crime and the intended target. An FIR under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023 has been registered."
The police are intensifying efforts to locate and apprehend Janaklal Mandal, who remains at large. Authorities suspect the couple may have been involved in previous criminal activities, and the seized items suggest potential links to illegal arms trade and other unlawful operations.
This operation highlights the proactive measures taken by Bhagalpur police to curb criminal activities in the region, utilizing intelligence gathering and swift action to prevent planned crimes. The recovery of such a substantial cache of arms and cash underscores the seriousness of the gang's alleged operations.
