Gorakhpur. The investigation into an arms smuggling network allegedly linked to Lawrence Bishnoi, Goldy Brar, and Rohit Godara has now expanded to local contacts in Gorakhpur. A total of 31 individuals have been named as accused in the STF case. Among them are an associate of a local politician and the son of a police sub-inspector. Police are currently examining the mobile phones, social media accounts, and contacts of those who have been arrested.
Efforts are underway to verify the local contacts identified during the investigation. Police are trying to determine the nature of the conversations these individuals had with the accused and whether they had any connection with the alleged arms network. In connection with the case, Gorakhpur Police also detained and questioned the brother of a student leader, but he was later released.
One of the named accused is reportedly an associate of a politician from the Sahjanwa area, while the father of another accused is a sub-inspector in the Uttar Pradesh Police. Following the registration of the case at Cantt Police Station, police are conducting raids to locate the remaining accused. At the same time, mobile numbers and social media activities are being scrutinized.
The STF is now working to identify the local individuals allegedly involved in distributing arms brought into Gorakhpur and the Purvanchal region from other states. Phone numbers and social media contacts recovered from the mobile phones of the arrested individuals are being cross-checked.
Five Accused Arrested on Monday Night
On Monday night, the STF arrested Shreyansh Yadav alias Bablu, Ajit Yadav, Abhishek Gaud alias Bheli, Abhishek Prajapati alias Abhi, and Rahul Gupta near Vindhyavasini Park. Following the disclosure of 26 additional names during questioning, a total of 31 individuals were named as accused in the STF case. Five of them have been arrested, while the remaining 26 are still being sought.
More than 10 teams are conducting raids across Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Haryana, as well as in the districts of Gorakhpur, Kushinagar, and Maharajganj, to apprehend the remaining accused. Shashank Pandey, a Bihar resident, is considered an important link in the investigation.
The investigation has also brought to light the names of Suraj Yadav, a PAC personnel from the Bansgaon area, and his associate, Pramod Yadav. According to the STF, the two allegedly purchased weapons from the same network as part of a plan to kill a young man. Police are now searching for the weapons and investigating the contacts associated with them. Both individuals reportedly went into hiding after learning about the police action.
The STF has also reached Shashank Pandey's ancestral village in search of him. His contacts established during his time in Gorakhpur are also being investigated. Previous inquiries had reportedly revealed links between him and an arms network allegedly associated with the Bishnoi gang.
