Four fraudsters involved in stealing gold by posing as jewellery cleaners were arrested following an exchange of fire with police in Sonbhadra district on Monday. During the encounter, two suspects suffered bullet injuries.
Sonbhadra CO (Pipari) reported that Anpara police officers were conducting vehicle checks early morning on the Dullah Pathar-Kubri hill road near the Madhya Pradesh border when they spotted four suspects riding two motorcycles.
When signaled to stop, the suspects tried to flee. During the chase, they lost control and fell. Attempting to escape, the suspects opened fire on the police, who retaliated, injuring two suspects in the leg.
The injured, identified as Sikandar Kumar (45) and Amardeep (35) from Katihar district, Bihar, were hospitalized. Their two accomplices, Ravind Kumar and Vipin Kumar, also from Bihar, were arrested at the scene.
Police recovered two country-made pistols, live cartridges, stolen gold jewellery including a chain, two bangles, and a ring, along with a chemical powder reportedly used for cleaning gold.
The gang operated in residential areas, offering jewellery cleaning services before using chemicals to steal gold ornaments and abscond.
