Five men accused of attacking a revenue team during an operation against illegal mining in Sultanpur were arrested after two separate police encounters on Wednesday morning, according to police. Three of the accused sustained bullet injuries to their legs during what police described as retaliatory firing, while firearms, vehicles and four dumpers allegedly linked to illegal mining were seized.
The arrests followed an alleged assault on Naib Tehsildar Dharmendra Yadav and two lekhpals during an anti-mining operation in Amilia Kala village late Monday night. Police registered cases including attempt to murder and obstruction of public servants against named and unidentified accused after the incident.
Those arrested were identified as Sandeep Singh alias Vinay, described by police as the main accused, Aditya Singh alias Vinay Pratap Singh, Rahul, Naushad and Manoj Singh. Police said the first encounter took place near Khenchila village when a team intercepted an SUV carrying Rahul and Naushad. The two men allegedly tried to flee and opened fire, following which police retaliated and injured Rahul in the leg. Both men were taken into custody.
Police said questioning during the investigation led to information about Manoj Singh, who was subsequently arrested. Officials also said Rahul has 10 criminal cases registered against him. The police account of the firing and the arrests has not been independently detailed in the supplied report.
In the second incident, Akhand Nagar police reportedly laid a trap near the Kundabhairopur service-lane underpass after receiving information that Sandeep Singh and an associate were travelling towards Azamgarh in a black Thar SUV. Police said the occupants opened fire when signalled to stop and attempted to escape. The vehicle later veered off the road during the chase, after which firing allegedly continued. Sandeep and Aditya were injured in their legs before being arrested.
Police said the seizures included country-made pistols, cartridges, mobile phones, a Thar SUV and a Scorpio. Four dumpers allegedly used for illegal mining were also taken into custody. The seizures connect the criminal investigation to the equipment and transport network used in the alleged mining activity, although the supplied report does not provide details of the ownership of the vehicles or the mining sites involved.
The case has also triggered departmental action. Sultanpur superintendent of police Vineet Jaiswal suspended Godwa outpost in-charge Vinod Kumar Patel, head constables Deepak Kumar and Jitendra Kanojia, and constable Anand Kumar Yadav. The suspensions were ordered over alleged negligence linked to the illegal mining racket.
The investigation now covers the alleged assault on the revenue officials, the firearms recovered during the encounters and the operation of the illegal mining network. Police have not announced further details of the seized material or the next stage of the case in the supplied report.
