Varanasi: Police arrested a person, Sahab Ram (43), after an exchange of fire near Pasipur culvert under Kaptanganj police station early Monday for duping women of their jewellery on the pretext of providing benefits under govt schemes.
CO (Budhanpur) Vijay Kumar Singh said acting on a tip-off, Kaptanganj station in-charge Pradeep Kumar and his team were checking vehicles, when they tried to intercept Sahab around 1.30am. Police recovered a country-made pistol, cartridges, jewellery allegedly obtained through fraud, Rs 1,350 cash, a mobile phone and the motorcycle used in the crimes. Some of the jewellery was later sold to an unidentified trader for Rs 7,000, police said.
Police said he has nine cases registered against him in Azamgarh and Ghazipur. When police signalled him to stop, he allegedly opened fire and attempted to flee with his motorcycle. The police retaliated, injuring him in the right knee before arresting him. Sahab Ram was taken to hospital for treatment. His sister, Neeraj alias Guddi, had already been arrested. During interrogation, Sahab Ram admitted that he and his sister targeted women by promising benefits under govt and housing schemes. They also visited house posing as relatives to gain the victims’ trust before taking their ornaments and fleeing.