Pratapgarh police arrest four criminals with illegal weapons before planned robbery

Police in Pratapgarh have arrested four criminals who were plotting a robbery, seizing illegal weapons and burglary tools from their possession. The arrests took place at Delhoopur police station area after officers received a tip-off about suspicious activity near Shanidev Dham Gate. Acting on information from an informer, police conducted a raid and caught the accused red-handed while they were planning a criminal operation.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Meraj alias Aadil, Saif, Sadab, and Naushad alias Nushad. During interrogation, the accused revealed they had gathered to execute a robbery in Kushfara village. A fifth accomplice, Sahil Khan, managed to escape on a motorcycle under the cover of darkness, and police teams are currently working to track him down.

The recovered cache included a 32-bore illegal pistol with eight live cartridges, a 315-bore country-made pistol with two live cartridges, a hammer, chisel, pliers, rope, and three black cloths intended to conceal their identities. Police also seized three mobile phones and two motorcycles from the suspects.

According to police records, two of the arrested accused, Saif and Meraj alias Aadil, have multiple prior cases registered against them, including robbery, dacoity, violations of the Gangster Act, Arms Act, and the Explosives Act. The repeat criminal history of these offenders underscores the significance of their timely arrest.

Delhoopur police have registered a case against the arrested individuals under relevant sections of law and initiated legal proceedings. The operation represents a major breakthrough for local law enforcement, potentially preventing a serious crime. Authorities credit the success to prompt action on intelligence inputs and effective coordination during the raid.