Muzaffarpur/Samastipur, Jan. 3: Six members of an inter-district gang involved in lifting vehicles were nabbed near Mithanpura Chowk last evening. However, the kingpin managed to flee.

Seven cellphones, two firearms, five knives, sickles, hammers and iron tools used in breaking steering locks of cars were seized from their possession.

Senior superintendent of police (SSP) Rajesh Kumar said: “The police intercepted an SUV, bearing a Nagaland registration number and carrying seven persons, near Mithanpura police station last evening. We arrested six of them but Naiar Imam, alias Neta, the kingpin of the gang, managed to slip away.”

The arrested men were identified as Mohammad Shan, Mohammad Ishraz, Raju Kumar, Sharfuddin, Ravi Ranjan Kumar and Shahid Mansuri. The SSP said the six confessed to lifting motor cars and other vehicles, apart from burgling big shops and business establishments in Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi and Darbhanga districts at night.

One of the members of the gang, Sharfuddin, hails from Nepal. The SSP added the gang members were wanted in Sitamarhi and Darbhanga districts in connection with various incidents of crime.

Police officers from Sitamarhi and Darbhanga districts have already arrived to interrogate the arrested criminals in connection with the loots committed and the FIRs lodged against them. Mohammad Shan and Raju Kumar admitted that they were facing trial in criminal cases related to loot operations in Sitamarhi district and were out on bail.

Extortionist arrested

A criminal, Kanhai Lal Pandit, was arrested today for allegedly trying to extort Rs 2 lakh from Balbir Pandey, a resident of Musapur village under Mufassil police station of Samastipur district.

Two country-made pistols, nine live cartridges and four cellphones were seized during a raid on his residence.

Police had detained six other persons during the raid but released them after interrogation.

Pandit, a resident of Sonbarsa Chowk under Mufassil police station, had served jail term in the murder of Munna Mobile and Upendra Sah in the district earlier.

Samastipur superintendent of police Varun Kumar Sinha told The Telegraph: “Mufassil police station house officer Sanjay Jha led a team that nabbed Kanhai Lal Pandit, who was wanted for demanding Rs 2 lakh extortion money from Musapur resident Balbir Pandey.”