Patna: Two accused wanted in several jewellery shop heists were shot at by police and arrested after a gunfight in Siwan district late Tuesday night.The duo had allegedly looted jewellery worth Rs25 lakh from a shop in Siwan on March 9. The shootout occurred on the Siwan-Patna highway near Laheji village under Basantpur police station area. The accused, identified as Rohit Sharma (25) and Rohit Kumar Kushwaha alias Rishu (19), were shot in the leg and are undergoing treatment in police custody.On March 9, six masked persons looted jewellery worth Rs25 lakh from a shop in Basantpur market under Basantpur police station area in Siwan. In another incident on Dec 2, four motorcycle-borne masked miscreants robbed jewellery worth Rs18 lakh from a shop in Khodi Pakar market under the same police station limits.Police said Sharma was involved in both robberies, among others, and carried a reward of Rs40,000. Rishu was also involved in the Basantpur market jewellery shop loot case.Siwan SP Puran Kumar Jha said, “Late Tuesday night, police received information that two armed criminals were travelling from Siwan to Patna. Acting on the input, police began vehicle checks near Laheji village on the Siwan-Patna highway.”“During checking, the suspects spotted the police and stopped at a distance. When asked to move forward, they turned their bike and tried to flee. Police chased them. As the chase intensified, the criminals opened fire, firing three to four rounds,” he said.“They then abandoned the bike and ran into nearby fields. Police retaliated and shot both in the leg, after which they were apprehended,” the SP added.The injured were first taken to Siwan Sadar Hospital and later referred to Patna for further treatment.Police recovered two country-made pistols, six live cartridges, three empty shells, a motorcycle, two magazines, and 20 pouches of smack from their possession.
