SITAPUR, India — Police in Uttar Pradesh's Sitapur district have busted an inter-district gang of women thieves targeting busy commercial markets ahead of the Karwa Chauth festive rush, arresting three suspects and recovering stolen brass items valued at approximately ₹55,000.
According to police officials, the arrests followed an investigation into a theft reported on Oct. 28 at a shop owned by local merchant Subodh Kumar Gupta in the Purnagiri Nagar neighborhood. Acting under directives from Superintendent of Police Ankur Agarwal and the supervision of municipal police leadership, a team led by Munshiganj outpost in-charge Sub-Inspector Ram Prakash apprehended the suspects after reviewing closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage from the commercial area.
Stolen Festive Goods Recovered
During the operation, police recovered two plastic sacks containing 14 brass ritual pots (karwas) weighing 17.35 kilograms, along with a pressure cooker and a saree. Four of the brass pots were linked directly to the theft at Gupta's shop, while the remaining items had been stolen from multiple commercial outlets in Sitapur's Tamsenganj market.
The arrested individuals were identified as Poonam, a resident of Fattepur under Maigalganj police station; Sushila, from Piparjhhala under Mitauli police station; and Bhidlo, from Patrasi under Phoolbehad police station—all hailing from neighboring Lakhimpur Kheri district. Investigators confirmed the women traveled across district borders to exploit festive crowds in local bazaars.
Kotwali Nagar police booked the trio under Sections 305 and 317(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Police officials confirmed that all legal procedures and judicial guidelines were observed prior to producing the suspects before a competent court.
