Uttar Pradesh police nab five in Ballia vehicle‑theft gang bust

The Uttar Pradesh police received a tip that members of an inter‑state vehicle‑theft gang were moving stolen vehicles and other goods toward Bihar via the Baharia route. Officers set up a cordon near Kolabazray in Ballia and confronted the suspects. When the gang opened fire, police responded with minimal force; one suspect, identified as Hemant Singh of Kudari, Gadhwar, was wounded in the leg.

Four other suspects—Anuj Upadhyay, Dinesh Srivastav, Akash Singh and Jai Kumar—were arrested at the scene. Police recovered an illegal tamanche, a live cartridge, an empty cartridge, eleven stolen motorcycles, a tractor‑trailer and other stolen items. The injured suspect was taken to a community health centre for treatment, and cases have been filed against all five under relevant criminal statutes.