Patna: Bihar Special Task Force (STF) has arrested three alleged members of a gang involved in the Rs 70 lakh jewellery shop robbery in Muzaffarpur and recovered firearms, ammunition, cash, stolen jewellery and vehicles during coordinated raids conducted across the district, police said on Wednesday.The arrests were made on Tuesday in connection with Kanti police station case no. 359/26, registered following the June 12 robbery at a jewellery shop in Muzaffarpur. The STF said the operation led to the arrest of Mithlesh Kumar Rai, Jitendra Kumar and Ajit Kumar alias Bhola Singh, all residents of different areas of Muzaffarpur district.According to STF officials, Mithlesh was arrested from the Deoria police station area, Jitendra from the Paroo police station area and Ajit from the Saraiya police station area. During searches, police recovered a country-made pistol, six live cartridges, Rs 26,540 in cash, stolen gold and silver ornaments, four cellphones, a motorcycle, a car and other articles believed to be linked to the robbery.Among the valuables seized were two gold-like chains, seven nose pins and a pair of earrings weighing 19.50 grams in total. Police also recovered silver-like ornaments, including three pairs of anklets, two chains, a bracelet and three pairs of toe rings weighing 193.10 grams.STF DG Kundan Krishnan said the involvement of the three accused surfaced during the investigation into the high-value heist in which armed criminals allegedly looted jewellery worth nearly Rs 70 lakh from a shop in Muzaffarpur. Following the incident, Kanti police registered a case and launched a probe with assistance from the STF.Police records show that Mithlesh is a habitual offender with five criminal cases registered against him in Muzaffarpur and East Champaran districts, including charges of robbery, dacoity and Arms Act violations. Jitendra has four criminal cases related to robbery, dacoity and illegal arms, while Ajit has two cases registered against him in Muzaffarpur and Vaishali districts involving fraud and liquor smuggling.Krishnan said, “Efforts are on to identify and arrest other members of the gang and recover the remaining looted jewellery. Investigators are also examining whether the group was involved in other major property crimes in north Bihar.”
