SOG Officer Injured in Police Encounter, Two Criminals Arrested in Varanasi A police encounter in Varanasi’s Lanka police station area on Monday night left an SOG (Special Group) officer critically injured after being shot in the hand. The incident unfolded when two accused, linked to a 27-kilogram silver theft case, opened fire on a police team. The officer, Gaurav Kumar, sustained injuries during the exchange of gunfire, while the criminals were shot in the legs during the police response. Both were apprehended at the scene and are currently receiving treatment at BHU Trauma Center. The police operation began after intelligence from an informer revealed that the two suspects, identified as perpetrators of the silver theft, were hiding in the Lautubir area. Authorities swiftly deployed an SOG team and local police to surround the suspects. When the police attempted to stop a vehicle suspected to be carrying the criminals, the suspects fled and opened fire, triggering a chaotic shootout. The officer was grazed in the hand during the exchange, while the criminals were hit in the legs and collapsed at the scene. The arrested individuals are linked to a theft incident on July 16, where approximately 27 kilograms of silver were stolen from Hemaji Jewelers in Sudriya Sarraf Bazaar. During the investigation, police recovered nearly four kilograms of silver, cash, and other items from the suspects. Authorities are now conducting a thorough examination of the seized materials to match them with the stolen goods. The police are also intensifying efforts to locate the remaining stolen silver and any accomplices who may have fled the scene. Officials stated that further interrogations of the arrested suspects will help identify additional individuals involved in the theft.#varanasi #sog_officer #gaurav_kumar #lautubir #hemaji_jewelers
