Varanasi: Azamgarh Police on Thursday arrested four members of an inter-district gang of thieves in separate encounters in Aharula and Tehbarpur police station areas. Those arrested were injured in police retaliatory firing and sent to hospital for treatment. They were identified as Dilkash, Sahil, Wajid and Faizan, all residents of Bareilly.Police recovered three country-made pistols, live and spent cartridges, stolen gold and silver jewellery, Rs 29,230 cash, an XUV-500 vehicle without a number plate, five mobile phones and tools used in thefts, including screwdrivers, a cutter and an electronic weighing scale.The first encounter took place around 3:46 am near Paschimpatti Mahaliya under Aharula police station area. While checking passing vehicles, police tried to stop a white SUV coming from Tehbarpur side on a service lane. Its occupants opened fire on the police team. In retaliatory action, Dilkash and Sahil sustained bullet injuries in their legs and were arrested. Police said around six other suspects fled towards Tehbarpur.In an early morning encounter on Chakiyadubey-Rampur service road under Tehbarpur police station area, police tried to stop the suspects coming from the Durvasa Rishi Ashram side. When they fired, the police team retaliated. Wajid and Faizan sustained bullet injuries in the leg and both were sent for treatment.Police said the gang was involved in several theft cases in Aharula, Tehbarpur, Bilariyaganj and Ambedkar Nagar. During questioning, the accused admitted to committing thefts in Azamgarh as well as in Ghazipur, Ballia and Jaunpur districts.The gang used to park vehicles near highways and enter nearby village houses at night. They would break locks and steal gold and silver jewellery and cash before fleeing in an SUV driven by an associate.Four other accused, identified as Dilshad, Aftab, Sonu Ali and Nesar, are absconding. Police teams are conducting raids for their arrest.ASP Rural, Chirag Jain said cases were registered at Aharula Tehbarpur police stations under section 109(1) of BNS and relevant sections of the Arms Act.
