Six members of a gang allegedly involved in the killing of two jewellers in Mathura on May 15 were arrested following an encounter with police on Saturday, officials said.
The arrested six were identified as Rakesh alias Ranga, the leader of the gang, two of his brothers — Kameesh alias Chini and Neeraj — and Aditya, Aiyush and Chotu. Two gang members were injured in the encounter.
On May 15, two traders were killed and two others were injured during a robbery in Koyalawali Gali in Holi Gate area. Six armed men came on motorbikes and barged into jewellery shops in the market falling under Kotwali police station limits, and opened fire. Two persons, identified as Vikas Agarwal and Megh Agarwal, were killed.
Police tracked down the gang members to Hanuman Gali in Choubeyapada of Mathura. They were hiding there since the night of the crime, said additional director general of police (Agra Zone) Ajay Anand.
{{/usCountry}}Police tracked down the gang members to Hanuman Gali in Choubeyapada of Mathura. They were hiding there since the night of the crime, said additional director general of police (Agra Zone) Ajay Anand.
{{/usCountry}}Police is said to have recovered the gold looted by the gangsters but details are awaited.
“Six of the accused have been arrested. Two of them were injured in the encounter, and one of them, Neeraj, has been taken to SN Hospital in Agra for treatment,” Anand told Hindustan Times.
Rakesh is a resident of Choubeyapada and has a criminal record. He was recently released from jail.
The arrests took place a day after bullion traders observed a statewide bandh demanding arrest of the assailants.
All 1,445 jewellery shops in Lucknow, along with 16,770 shops in other parts of the state were closed.
Jewellers took out a scooter rally in Mathura,and staged dharnas in Lucknow and Kanpur.
Family members of one of the killed traders also sat on a dharna in Mathura on Thursday. They ended their protest after officials sought two days to arrest the accused.