The UP Special Task Force (STF) arrested Adarsh Singh Behra of Jaunpur, a criminal wanted for his role in a Rs7-crore jewellery shop robbery in Hooghly, West Bengal, on Wednesday. His accomplice, Suraj Seth of Varanasi, was also apprehended at the Gambhirpur toll plaza in Azamgarh district.
Following the robbery on August 3, six armed men looted a shop in Hooghly, stealing Rs20 lakh in cash, 12 diamond rings, and gold, diamond, and silver jewellery, along with a motorcycle. The West Bengal police sought assistance from UP authorities, providing CCTV footage, suspect photos, and other details.
The STF team, led by Inspector Anil Kumar Singh, traced Behra to a rented house in Varanasi. Behra had collaborated with Bihar-based criminals Bittu and Vinod Rai, who had called him to Kolkata to execute the heist after a prior reconnaissance. After the robbery, the culprits traveled to Ranchi, changed vehicles, and returned to Varanasi.
The stolen jewellery was later sold: Suraj Seth of Cholapur purchased items for Rs35 lakh, and Surjit of Thanagaddi, Jaunpur, bought jewellery for Rs30 lakh. Following their arrest, the duo was produced before the Jaunpur court to seek transit remand for action in Chandannagar, West Bengal.
Behra is reportedly involved in 15 criminal cases, including loot, robbery, and attempted murder. His uncle, Deepak Singh Behra, was a notorious criminal killed in a police encounter in Varanasi about 20 years ago.
