Gonda: A wanted chain-snatching suspect was arrested after being injured in a police encounter during a joint operation by the Kotwali Dehat Police and the Special Operations Group (SOG) in Gonda district. According to police, the accused allegedly opened fire while attempting to evade arrest during a vehicle-checking operation, prompting retaliatory action in self-defence.
The operation was carried out under the direction of Superintendent of Police Vineet Jaiswal, with supervision from Additional Superintendent of Police (East) Ajit Kumar Rajak and leadership of Circle Officer (City) Yogendra Singh.
The encounter took place near Bhola Brick Kiln on the Ramnagar–Bisnaga Link Road, where police teams were conducting checks on suspicious vehicles and individuals. Officers signalled a rider on a motorcycle without a registration number to stop. Instead, the suspect allegedly tried to flee and fired at the police team during the chase. Police returned fire in self-defence, injuring the suspect in the leg before taking him into custody.
The arrested man has been identified as Raja alias Ghulam Hussain, son of Ahmad Hussain, a resident of Mewatiyan locality under Kotwali Nagar Police Station in Gonda. He was admitted to the District Hospital for treatment following the encounter.
Police said the accused was wanted in two chain-snatching cases registered as Crime No. 706/2026 at Kotwali Dehat Police Station and Crime No. 201/2026 at Umri Begumganj Police Station.
During interrogation, the accused allegedly confessed to being part of an organised chain-snatching gang that targeted pedestrians by snatching gold chains and fleeing on motorcycles. He is also alleged to have admitted involvement in chain-snatching incidents in the Kotwali Dehat and Umri Begumganj police station areas.
Investigators further stated that another member of the same gang, identified as Uwais, son of Hasan Ahmad, had already been arrested and sent to jail on July 20, 2026.
Police recovered ₹5,900 in cash, a Super Splendor motorcycle believed to have been used in the crimes, a 12-bore country-made pistol, one live cartridge and one spent cartridge from the accused’s possession. A fresh case under the relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Arms Act has also been registered against him.
Police said further legal proceedings are underway and efforts are continuing to trace and arrest other members of the alleged chain-snatching gang.
