A major mobile and bike snatching gang operating on National Highway-27 in the Phulparas police station area of Madhubani district has been busted. Police have arrested five criminals in connection with the case and recovered 10 snatched mobile phones and 3 bikes from their possession.

In a press conference held at the Phulparas police station premises on Monday, In-charge DSP Subodh Kumar Singh provided details of the operation. He stated that the police received information about snatched mobile phones being sold in Bhattapatti village within the police station's jurisdiction. Acting on this tip-off, a police team led by Station Head Officer Vikram Acharya conducted a swift raid. Three youths on a bike fled upon seeing the police, but authorities managed to apprehend Deepesh Kumar, a resident of Bhattapatti, and Prayant Kumar, a resident of Kogaria Tol, along with three snatched mobiles and one bike.

During interrogation, Deepesh and Prayant identified their absconding accomplices as Ramesh Kumar Yadav of Bagha Kushmar, Khutouna police station area; Rupesh Kumar Mandal of Dahapatti, Phulparas; and Priyanshu Kumar of Hanumannagar. Based on their leads, police raided various locations and recovered a total of 10 mobile phones and three bikes.

The police also arrested Mohd. Mustaqeem alias Mohd. Ashiq of Ekdara, Khutouna police station area; Mohd. Amanullah alias Munshi of Bagha Kushmar; and mobile shop owner Amit Kumar Mandal of Kalapatti, Phulparas. Snached mobiles were also recovered from Amit's shop. Deepesh and Prayant revealed that they had given four snatched mobiles to Amit, receiving Rs 40,000 in return. A Pulsar bike was recovered from Mustaqeem's house and a KTM bike from Amanullah's house.

The SHO stated that two of the arrested criminals have prior criminal records. The accused have confessed to snatching bikes, mobiles, and other items on NH-27 from Muzaffarpur to Phulparas and beyond. Raids are ongoing to apprehend the absconding Rupesh, Priyanshu, and Ramesh.