- Accused Shot Jeweller in the Leg Before Escaping with Gold and Silver Ornaments
- Police Recover Huge Cache of Jewellery, Illegal Firearm, Live Cartridges and Stolen Motorcycle
Lucknow: In a major breakthrough, the Southern Zone Surveillance Cell and Gosainganj Police jointly solved a high-profile armed robbery case involving a jeweller and arrested two alleged members of a notorious robbery gang. The police recovered stolen gold and silver ornaments worth an estimated ₹1.5 crore, along with an illegal pistol, live cartridges, and a stolen motorcycle used in the crime.
The successful operation has been hailed as a significant achievement in the investigation of a robbery that shocked the local business community last month.
Jeweller Shot and Robbed While Returning Home
According to police, the incident took place on June 23, 2026, when Sachin Kumar Verma, a jeweller from Munshiganj-Ram Bagh Road in Gosainganj, was returning home on his scooter carrying gold and silver ornaments belonging to his own shop as well as his brother’s jewellery business.
At approximately 8:30 PM, near the Bangla Bhawani Temple area, three unidentified assailants intercepted his scooter and attempted to snatch his bag and vehicle. When the jeweller resisted and raised an alarm, the attackers allegedly shot him in the leg before fleeing with the bag containing valuable ornaments.
Following the incident, a case was registered at Gosainganj Police Station under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Extensive Investigation Led to Arrests
To crack the case, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) constituted four special teams, including personnel from the Southern Zone Surveillance Cell.
Investigators reportedly examined footage from nearly 600 CCTV cameras and gathered crucial electronic evidence through technical surveillance. Based on the analysis, police tracked the suspects and conducted a late-night operation on July 6 near the Daheramau Underpass in Gosainganj, where two accused were arrested.
The arrested accused have been identified as:
- Shivam Yadav alias Kundan (24), a graduate and ADCA computer course holder from Kakohiya village, Sikarara police station area, Jaunpur district.
- Ankul Yadav alias Gole (20), a Class 10 pass and Mechanical Polytechnic diploma student from the same village in Jaunpur.
Both accused have been sent to judicial custody after being booked under additional charges, including provisions of the Arms Act.
Police said efforts are underway to arrest a third accused, identified as Sonu Yadav.
Gang Targeted Jewellers After Detailed Surveillance
During interrogation, the accused allegedly disclosed that they specialized in targeting jewellers. They would conduct reconnaissance around jewellery shops, monitor the movements and schedules of shop owners, and use stolen motorcycles to execute robberies.
According to investigators, the gang would resort to violence, including firing at victims, if resistance was encountered.
Police claim the accused confessed to involvement in multiple incidents, including:
- The June 23 jeweller robbery and shooting in Gosainganj, Lucknow.
- A motorcycle theft reported at Hazratganj Police Station on June 6, 2026.
- An armed robbery involving a jeweller in Rae Bareli’s Mill Area on June 18, 2026.
- A similar shooting and robbery of a jeweller in Chandauli district’s Alinagar area on May 28, 2026.
Officials described the suspects as habitual offenders involved in organized property crimes.
Major Recovery Made
The police recovered a substantial quantity of stolen ornaments and weapons, including:
- 13 gold necklaces
- 412 gold lockets
- 3 gold men’s rings
- 295 pairs of gold earrings
- 204 gold nose pins
- 36 gold maang ornaments
- 228 gold jhumkas
- 28 gold nose rings
- 5 gold chains
- 10 gold bangles
- 4 pairs of gold tops
- Various miscellaneous gold ornaments
- 30 pairs of silver anklets
- 163 silver toe rings
- 32 silver religious pendants and ornaments
- One .32 bore pistol
- Five live cartridges
- One stolen Apache motorcycle used in the crime
The total value of the recovered property has been estimated at approximately ₹1.5 crore.
Police Team Rewarded
Recognizing the successful investigation and recovery, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) announced a cash reward of ₹25,000 for the police team involved in cracking the case.
Officials stated that the operation demonstrates the effectiveness of coordinated surveillance, technical investigation, and field intelligence in tackling organized criminal gangs targeting traders and business owners across the region.
Further investigation is ongoing to identify additional associates and establish links with other similar crimes reported in Uttar Pradesh.
