Mankapur Police Arrest Three for Theft, Recover Cameras and Swift Car
Mankapur police arrest three suspects and recover DSLR cameras and a Swift Dzire car following a high-profile snatching incident in Gonda.
The Mankapur Kotwali police in Gonda district have successfully cracked a high-profile snatching case, leading to the arrest of three suspects. In a significant breakthrough, authorities managed to recover the stolen goods, including high-end photography equipment and the vehicle used to carry out the crime.
The Daylight Robbery
The incident traces back to September 14, 2026, when Shubham Gupta, a resident of Deviya Baksh Pandey village in Basti, was visiting the Karauhanath Temple fish market. Accompanied by his associate Sandeep Gupta, Shubham was there to capture photographs of the market scene.
The ordeal unfolded on the Mankapur-Maskanwa road during their return journey. According to police reports, four unidentified individuals intercepted the victims in a car approaching from the Maskanwa direction. The assailants forcefully snatched a bag containing expensive camera equipment before fleeing the scene.
Police Crackdown and Arrests
Following the theft, a formal complaint was lodged at the Mankapur police station on September 15, 2026. For several days, investigators worked to track the movement of the suspects. The breakthrough came on September 26, when the police received a crucial tip-off regarding the suspects' location.
Acting swiftly, a specialized police team surrounded the area near the ITI turn at Gyanipur Ramprasad. The operation resulted in the apprehension of three men:
- Mohan Lal Chauhan, son of Dharmraj, a resident of Sukrauli Pandey, Parashurampur, Basti.
- Karan, son of Ghirahu, a resident of Deviya Baksh Pandey, Paikolia, Basti.
- Abhi Pandey (alias Golu), son of the late Karuna Nidhan Pandey, a resident of Sukrauli Pandey, Parashurampur, Basti.
Recovered Items and Legal Action
The police successfully retrieved the items stolen during the heist, which include:
- Two professional DSLR camera setups.
- Three mobile phones.
- A Swift Dzire car, which was allegedly used by the criminals to intercept the victims.
The accused have been booked at the Mankapur police station under FIR number 357/26, with charges filed under sections 304(2) and 317(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). After completing the necessary legal formalities, the suspects were produced before a court.
The successful operation was carried out by a dedicated team led by Sub-Inspector Ramprakash Chand, supported by Head Constable Sanjeev Kumar, and Constables Dinesh Yadav, Haripal Verma, Indresh Kumar, and Sachin Kumar.