Police arrested five alleged thieves following an encounter in Ballia district, with two of them sustaining bullet injuries in their legs during an exchange of fire, police said. Silver ornaments, including a serpent idol and a crown allegedly stolen from temples, were recovered from their possession.

Source: ANI via Indian Economic Observer

According to police, the incident took place late on Thursday night when a police team was checking vehicles on the road from Lakhneshwardih to Am Ghat under the Rasra police station area. When a car was signalled to stop, its occupants allegedly tried to flee; police chased the vehicle and, when the suspects found themselves surrounded, they allegedly opened fire at the police team. Police returned fire in self-defence.

Source: ANI via Khelja

The two injured accused were identified as Zeeshan Alam and Chandrashekhar, while the other three — Suraj Paswan, Chandrashekhar Kumar and Bala Lakhandar Kumar — were caught after the chase. Police said all five accused are residents of Motihari district in Bihar.

Source: ANI via Indian Economic Observer

During questioning, the accused allegedly confessed to stealing a silver serpent and a crown from the Lakhneshwardih temple in the Rasra police station area, and to stealing a Radha-Krishna crown from Panch Mandir in Ghazipur district, police said. The Lakhneshwardih temple theft had taken place on the night of October 29, when masked men allegedly tied up the priest and took away a silver serpent weighing about 1.8 kg from the temple.

Source: Uncovered Bharat

Additional Superintendent of Police Dinesh Kumar Shukla said all five accused have been arrested, the two injured accused are undergoing treatment, and legal proceedings are under way.

Source: ANI via Indian Economic Observer