Varanasi: Two members of a gang involved in the robbery of over 27 kg silver from the staff of a jewellery firm in Varanasi on July 17 were arrested after an exchange of fire with a joint police team in the Lanka area early Tuesday. The two accused sustained bullet injuries to their legs during the encounter, and police recovered four silver bars, firearms and cash from their possession.The accused, along with their associates, had allegedly targeted the staff of a jewellery firm between the Sudiya and Resham Katra areas in Varanasi on July 17 and fled with 26 silver bars weighing about 27.327 kg. According to the FIR, the estimated value of the stolen silver was around Rs 60 lakh.After examining hundreds of CCTV camera footages, Chowk police identified the criminals and gathered clues about the gang.ADCP (Kashi Zone) Vaibhav Bangar said that acting on a tip-off about the movement of the robbers, a joint team of the SOG, Chowk and Lanka police stations laid a trap on the service road beyond the Lotubir culvert leading to the sewage plant in the Lanka area. Two accused, identified as Mohammad Ali alias Shalir Hasan (55) and Mashaallah (40), both residents of Pipariya in Narmadapuram district of Madhya Pradesh, arrived at the spot.When the police team tried to intercept them, the duo allegedly opened fire at the police. In retaliatory firing, both accused sustained bullet injuries to their legs. Police recovered four silver bars weighing four kg, cash worth Rs 15,020, two firearms, four live cartridges and four empty cartridges from their possession before shifting them to the Trauma Centre at BHU for treatment.
