In Gorakhpur district of Uttar Pradesh, police have arrested seven members of a gang from Maharashtra involved in theft at crowded religious sites. Officials reported the arrest of five women and two men on Saturday evening. The police seized ₹26,000 cash, a gold bangle, and a vehicle from their possession.
Targeting Crowded Religious Locations
The gang was notorious for focusing on crowded religious sites in Uttar Pradesh, using distraction and deceit strategies for pickpocketing and theft. During the Dhanteras festival, police said that they stole gold jewelry from a woman in Gorakhnath area of Gorakhpur. The gang also planned to target large gatherings during the Khichdi Mela at the Gorakhnath Temple.
Six-Month Crime Spree in Ayodhya
Acting on a tip-off, the Cantonment Police stopped and apprehended the gang members near the railway station. Among those arrested was Jyoti Prasad, a resident of Kanhan police station area in Nagpur district, Maharashtra. During interrogation, the accused revealed that they stayed in Ayodhya for six months before heading to Gorakhpur to commit thefts. They admitted to committing similar crimes in other cities as well.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (City), Abhinav Tyagi, confirmed the arrest, saying, 'The Maharashtra-based gang was behind the Dhanteras theft in Gorakhpur, which involved five women. The gang members were on our radar, and they were arrested upon receiving intelligence about their return to the city by the Cantonment Police.'
Further investigations are underway to identify other potential accomplices of the arrested individuals and recover the stolen items.
