Member of Balkhadiya gang held in Chitrakoot

KANPUR: An accomplice of bandit Sudesh Patel Balkhadiya was arrested near Chitrakoot railway station on Thursday. He was identified as Shiv Babu Patel, a resident of Bharosa Ka Tola and involved in cases of kidnapping, attempt to murder and making extortion calls. The anti-dacoity squad camping in Bahilpurwa made the arrest with the assistance from the local police.Gang leader Balkhadiya carries a cash reward of Rs 6 lakh on his head.
The raiding team laid a trap near railway station and arrested Shiv Babu Patel. DySP RD Chaurasiya said that Shiv Babu was wanted in several cases of extortion and attempt to murder.
On July 19, the anti-dacoity squad had arrested four members of Balkhadiya gang from the district. The arrested dacoits were identified as Lakshmi Prasad of Barampur, Kaushal Kishor of Kalla village, Bhaiya Lal of Khohi village and Chunni Lal Patel of Barui village, the police said.
Balkhadiya gang is notorious for brutal killing of rivals. On July 16, the gang kidnapped a resident of Girdhar Baba area identified as Dwarika Yadav. Earlier, the gang had gunned down five members of a family in Dodamafi village. Balkhadiya had raided Jamunahai village in Markundi and shot two brothers, who were relatives of the village head.
Thereafter, the gang shot dead Vijay Pal, a former BDC member and BSP worker at Nihi Chiraiyya village.
The police launched combing operation on Friday in the jungles in search of Dwarika Yadav. "On the basis of information provided by Shiv Babu Patel and four other gang members, a fresh combing exercise is underway in the jungles of Patha (rocky terrain) in search of Balkhadiya and his gang members," Chaurasiya added.