Two Accused of Posing as Cleaners Nabbed with Gold, Cash and Bike

Ballia police announced the arrest of two thieves who had been using a ruse of cleaning women’s jewellery and old brass vessels to gain entry into homes. The suspects, Arvind Sony and Pankaj Sony, were tracked after a local informant alerted officers to their presence near Ibrahim Patti‑Udharn road. When confronted, the duo opened fire, leading to a brief gunfight. One attacker was hit in the right leg; the other was captured after attempting to flee. Authorities recovered an illegal 315‑kg tamanch, two cartridges, three gold ornaments, cash worth ₹15,600 and a motorcycle. The injured suspect is recovering at a community health centre. The operation follows a series of similar incidents reported between August 21 and 24, where the pair allegedly moved from village to village, exploiting the cleaning pretense to steal valuables.