Robbers loot drone cameras, held in Pratapgarh

Prayagraj: Neighbouring Pratapgarh cops on Monday claimed to have busted an inter-district gang of robbers targeting marriage ceremony photographers using drone cameras and arrested two of its key members near Umarpur turn while they were planning to sell the looted drone cameras. The police also seized two looted drone cameras, a charger, a remote, batteries, a bike, and one country-made pistol of Rs 315 bore along with two cartridges from their possession.

The arrested robbers, identified as Raju Patel (23) and Dinesh Patel (27), are residents of Rampur Bela (Patti). The arrested robbers confessed to the police that there are a total of six members in their gang who used to target marriage photographers using drone cameras for shooting. The gang executed around half a dozen drone camera thefts in Pratapgarh and adjoining districts. Raju admitted to the police that his gang executed drone camera thefts at Kandhai and other areas on May 10, 23, and 26 at three different spots. The robbers also confessed that they used to target photographers using drone cameras once they returned from covering marriage ceremony events. As drone cameras and their accessories are quite expensive in the market, the gang's modus operandi was to target photographers. They used to connect with marriage parties and gather details of photographers assigned the task of coverage. Police said that three criminal cases each were pending against the arrested robbers. They were booked under section 310(2) and 317(2) of BNS and section 3/25 of the Arms Act. Teams are dispatched to ensure the arrest of other members of the gang.