Varanasi: Five members of a gang allegedly involved in cheating people by posing as medicine sellers and selling fake stimulants were arrested after an encounter with Sidhari police in Azamgarh district early Tuesday. The gang leader sustained a bullet injury to his leg during the exchange of fire, while police recovered a firearm, cash, clinic visiting cards and the car used by the accused.Azamgarh CO (City) Shubham Todi said that acting on information that the criminals, posing as medicine sellers, were travelling in a car via Khemawpur and Itaura, Sidhari police started vehicle checking near the canal culvert on Khemawpur Road. When they were signalled to stop, the occupants allegedly tried to flee.The gang leader, Dhyan Singh (34) of Moradabad, allegedly opened fire at the police while attempting to escape, Todi said. In retaliatory firing by the police, he sustained a bullet injury to his leg and was arrested.Police recovered a country-made pistol, cartridges, cash worth Rs 3,000, an Aadhaar card, 12 clinic visiting cards and the car before shifting him to hospital.His four accomplices—Chhatrapal (42) of Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand, Kuldeep (35), Raja (20) and Sarita Singh (34), all of Moradabad—were also arrested.During questioning, the accused allegedly confessed that they sold fake medicines by claiming they were stimulants and medicines for treatment. They also confessed to stealing Rs 5,000 from a shop in Pawai on August 2.
