Bahraich police arrest five wire thieves after armed clash

On August 8, 2026, police in Bahraich district, Uttar Pradesh, surrounded a gang of five suspected electricity‑wire thieves near the Sarayu Canal in the Nanpara area. The suspects opened fire on the officers; police returned fire, injuring one gang member in the leg. Four members were taken into custody while one escaped.

The operation, part of a district‑wide anti‑theft drive, yielded illegal ammunition, cartridges, a vehicle, tools and a large quantity of stolen power‑line wires. Senior Superintendent of Police Vishwajeet Srivastava said the recent spate of wire thefts had disrupted electricity supply for residents and that the police would continue the crackdown.