Lucknow: In a major breakthrough, a joint team of the Lucknow Crime Branch and Madianav Police Station arrested four seasoned criminals involved in breaking into locked homes and stealing valuables. The operation also led to the recovery of illegal firearms, explosives, cash, stolen jewelry, and a stolen motorcycle.
Incident Overview:
On January 11, 2026, the joint police team was deployed at IIM Tiraha for routine patrol, monitoring suspicious vehicles and individuals, and checking for wanted persons. Based on a tip-off from a confidential informant, the police intercepted a group carrying stolen items on a white Apache motorcycle heading towards Dubagga.
Upon questioning, the four accused provided the following details:
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Nawab Ali (aka Salman Ali / Arjun / Aman), son of Abdul Haq, resident of Begariya near Bright Brains Public School, Dubagga, Lucknow, originally from Kherwa Purbaawa, Sadar Kotwali, Hardoi, aged 23, employed at Sumitra Hospital reception.
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Aftab, son of Sheikh Abbas, resident of Tahseen Ganj Chauraha near Ghas Mandi, Thakurganj, Lucknow, aged 24, works in electronics.
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Afroz (aka Mohammad Firoz), son of Sheikh Abbas, resident near Ali Garden, Murfatmau, Dubagga, Lucknow, aged ~35, works as a plumber.
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Shamsul, son of Mohammad Asfaq, resident of Ahmedabadganj near Madina Masjid, Tambour, Sitapur, currently near Naveen Sabzi Mandi, Peeli Colony, Thakurganj, Lucknow, aged 19, works as a plumber.
Recovered Items:
The police recovered from the accused:
- Gold and silver jewelry: necklaces, earrings, rings, nose pins, bangles, lockets, chains (various pieces, detailed below)
- Illegal firearms: 2 pistols (.32 bore and 9mm bore), 2 unlicensed handguns (.312 & .315 bore)
- Live ammunition: 23 rounds (various calibers)
- Explosives: 8 sticks of detonating cord (sutli bomb)
- Cash: ₹10,000
- Tools: 2 iron rods used in theft
- Stolen motorcycle: Apache, registration UP32MQ4674
Criminal Modus Operandi:
The accused targeted locked homes to steal gold and silver jewelry, which they sold to satisfy personal desires. They also carried illegal firearms and explosives to intimidate or defend themselves if caught during theft.
Registered Cases Based on Seizures:
- FIR Nos.: 017/2026, 018/2026, 019/2026, 020/2026 (Arms Act Sections 3/7/25) – Madianav Police
- FIR No.: 021/2026 (Explosives Act Sections 4/5) – Madianav Police
- Additional FIRs registered at local stations: Mal, Thakurganj, Dubagga, BKT Lucknow under BNS sections for theft and related crimes.
Legal Action:
The accused were informed of charges under Sections 303(2)/305(a)/331(4)/317(2) of BNS, Arms Act, and Explosives Act. They are being presented before the appropriate courts for further legal proceedings. During arrest and recovery, strict adherence to Supreme Court and Human Rights Commission guidelines was ensured.
Police Teams Involved:
Madianav Police Team:
- Inspector: Shivanand Mishra
- Sub-Inspectors: Nitin Kumar, Amit Sahu, Shubham Tiwari, Akhilesh Kumar, Akhilesh Singh, Pushpendra Chaudhary
- Head Constable: Kamlesh Kumar Verma
- Constables: Manoj Kumar, Digvijay Yadav, Sachin Dubey, Akhilesh Verma
Crime Branch Team:
- Sub-Inspectors: Rahul Tripathi, Mohammad Aslam, Ashutosh Pandey, Prakash Singh
- Head Constables: Atul Kumar Pandey, Pawan, Habib Khan, Amit Kushwaha, Jeet Singh, Manoj Kumar Shukla, Dilip
- Constables: Nahar Singh, Deshraj Mukhia
This operation is considered a significant success in Lucknow’s ongoing efforts to curb organized burglary and illegal possession of arms and explosives.
Detailed List of Recovered Jewelry:
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1 gold necklace, 1 gold nose pin, 3 gold rings, 2 pairs of gold earrings, 1 pair of gold drops, 1 gold locket, 2 gold nose studs, 1 gold chain, 1 pair of gold jhala, 4 pairs of silver anklets
