Varanasi: Police in Azamgarh have arrested six members of an inter-district gang allegedly involved in stealing brass bells from temples across Purvanchal, seizing 20 stolen bells, Rs 1 lakh cash and two cars used in the crimes.CO (Phulpur) Bhupesh Kumar Pandey said a joint team of Mehnagar and Tarva police raided a spot near Vishunpura turning on the Kharihani-Chiraiyakot road following a tip-off. The gang members were allegedly transferring stolen bells from one car to another when police arrived. They tried to flee but were surrounded and arrested.The accused were identified as Shyam Gupta, Prem Kumar, Pappu Ram, Harsh Gupta, Satish Kumar and Atul Kasera. Pandey said Shyam, who runs a utensils shop, allegedly planned the thefts after suffering business losses. He subsequently formed the gang, whose members stole brass bells from temples in different districts and sold them to Atul Kasera of Mirzapur for around Rs 860 per kg.The gang came under the police scanner after allegedly targeting Pauhari Baba temple in Mehnagar twice within three days. On the night of September 29, the accused stole 11 brass bells and returned on October 1 to steal nine more. A case was registered at Mehnagar police station under Section 305(d) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).During questioning, the accused allegedly admitted to stealing four brass bells from a temple in Saidpur, Ghazipur, on August 7. Police are verifying their involvement in other temple thefts.
