Two chain snatchers arrested after police encounter in Mirzapur district

Two alleged chain snatchers were arrested after a police encounter in Mirzapur district, with one of the accused sustaining a bullet injury to his right leg during the exchange of fire. The incident took place when a police team from Katra police station was conducting a routine checking drive and the suspects attempted to flee, according to the local authorities.

The encounter occurred on Thursday, 10 September 2026, at Janhvi intersection where a police team led by the City Superintendent of Police and the City Circle Officer was carrying out vehicle checks as part of an ongoing campaign against crime and criminals under the direction of Mirzapur Superintendent of Police Aparna Rajat Kaushik. The campaign has been launched to prevent crime and arrest wanted accused in the district.

During the checking operation, the police team attempted to stop two young men riding a motorcycle. Instead of halting, both the riders accelerated and fled at high speed towards Natwa via Dudhnath intersection. The police team immediately gave chase and surrounded them from both sides to prevent their escape.

According to the police, the accused opened fire at the police team with the intent to kill in order to evade arrest. In self-defense, the police returned fire, during which Saddam alias Lakhendra was hit by a bullet in his right leg. The second accused, Firoz Alam, was caught by the police team after they tightened the cordon around him. The injured accused was sent to the district hospital in Mirzapur for treatment, where his condition has been reported as stable by the police.

Following the encounter, the police recovered significant evidence from both the accused. From the possession of the injured accused Saddam alias Lakhendra, police seized one country-made pistol, one live cartridge and one empty cartridge of .315 bore, along with a yellow metal chain from his pant pocket. From the second accused Firoz Alam, police recovered one country-made pistol and two live cartridges of .315 bore. The police also recovered the TVS Rider motorcycle bearing registration number UP63BK0713 that was used in the incident from the spot.

During interrogation, both the accused revealed that they had snatched a chain from the neck of an elderly woman near Natwa intersection on 1 September 2026 while riding a motorcycle and had fled from the scene. The police have stated that a portion of the recovered chain is related to that particular chain snatching incident.

The arrested accused have been identified as Saddam alias Lakhendra, son of Jalaluddin, resident of Khuthaniyan, police station Karma, district Sonbhadra, aged 34 years, and Firoz Alam, son of Kallu alias Kamaluddin, resident of Ward Number 10, Gadhi Mohalla, Chaudhary Nagar Ghosia, police station Aurai, district Bhadohi, aged 30 years.

According to police records, the injured accused Saddam alias Lakhendra has a previous criminal history as well. Cases against him have been registered at police station Madihan in Mirzapur, including a theft case in the year 2017 and cases under sections of BNS in the year 2026.

The items recovered during the operation include two country-made pistols of .315 bore, three live cartridges and one empty cartridge of .315 bore, the snatched yellow metal chain, and the TVS Rider motorcycle bearing registration number UP63BK0713 that was used in the commission of the crime.

The Katra police station has registered a case in the matter and further legal proceedings are underway. The police team that successfully executed the operation included Inspector-in-Charge Neeraj Kumar Pathak, Mandi Samiti outpost in-charge Sub-Inspector Mahendra Patel, Mukeri Bazaar outpost in-charge Sub-Inspector Lallan Yadav, along with other members of the police team who participated in the encounter and subsequent arrest of the accused chain snatchers.