Varanasi: Five members of an interstate vehicle theft gang were arrested following an exchange of fire with a joint team of the Bairia police, SWAT and surveillance units early Sunday. The gang leader sustained a bullet injury to his leg during the encounter. Police also recovered a stolen tractor-trolley, 11 motorcycles, two pumping set motors, stolen tools and an illegal firearm.Ballia ASP (South) Sanjay Verma said that acting on intelligence inputs about the movement of criminals, the joint police team intensified night patrolling and vehicle checking at various locations. Around 2.45 am, informers alerted police that a group of vehicle thieves riding stolen motorcycles was heading towards the Bihar border via Bairia.When the police team intercepted and surrounded them on the Bairia road, the gang leader, identified as Hemant Singh of the Gadwar area, allegedly opened fire on the police. In retaliatory firing, Hemant sustained a bullet injury to his right leg.Police arrested Hemant along with his alleged accomplices — Harsh Raj Singh alias Raj of Jagdishpur, Dinesh Srivastava of Haibatpur, Anuj Upadhyay alias Shivam of Sitabdiyar in Bihar, and Jaykumar Gond alias Santul of Babhnauli.Police recovered a country-made pistol and live cartridges from the spot before shifting the injured Hemant to a hospital for treatment. Based on the information provided by the arrested accused, police later recovered a stolen tractor and trolley, 11 motorcycles, two pumping set motors and stolen tools.During interrogation, the accused allegedly confessed that they were planning to sell the stolen vehicles in Bihar. Further legal proceedings are underway.
