The Uttar Pradesh Police have arrested Taj Mohammed, along with other members of a gang involved in stealing brass bells from temples across several districts of the state. Officials said the arrests were made after a series of investigations into repeated thefts reported from temples in Bulandshahr and nearby areas. More than 100 stolen temple bells, along with illegal weapons, have been recovered from the accused.
Police said the gang was active in Bulandshahr district as well as neighbouring Aligarh and Hathras districts of Uttar Pradesh, which too reported similar complaints of theft of temple bells in recent weeks.
Zero Tolerance Against Crime#मेरठ_रेंज की @bulandshahrpol द्वारा अपराधियो पर कार्यवाही करते हुए
“atm से पैसे निकालने वाले दो बदमाश गिरफ्तार,एटीएम कार्ड व नकदी बरामद”
“मंदिरो से घंटे चोरी करने वाले पांच बदमाश गिरफ्तार”#UPPolice#ADGZoneMRT pic.twitter.com/bLGGRCpLsm— DIG RANGE MEERUT (@digrangemeerut) December 14, 2025
Arrests made after late-night encounter
According to the police, two key members of the gang, identified as Hammu and Taj Mohammad, were arrested late Thursday night (11th December), following a brief encounter with police. Based on information provided by them during questioning, five more gang members, Sagir, Nazim, Dildar, Rajuddin and Ali, were taken into custody on Saturday (13th December).
थाना डिबाई पुलिस द्वारा मंदिर से घंटे चोरी करने वाले अंर्तराज्यदीय 05 शातिर चोर गिरफ्तार, कब्जें/निशादेही से चोरी किये गये 96 घन्टे (वजन 1.25 कुन्तल), अवैध शस्त्र, कारतूस, बरामद। इस सम्बन्ध में अपर पुलिस अधीक्षक ग्रामीण डा0 तेजवीर सिंह की बाइट~ #UPPolice pic.twitter.com/u520hQibIF
— Bulandshahr Police (@bulandshahrpol) December 13, 2025
Rural Superintendent of Police Tejveer Singh said that reports of theft of brass bells from temples had been received in a series during the recent past, after which the police constituted three special teams under the supervision of the Dibai Circle Officer with the task to track down the miscreants.
Over 96 stolen brass bells recovered
During the operation, police recovered 96 brass bells weighing around 125 kilograms, which were stolen from various temples. In addition, officers also seized a 12-kilogram brass ingot, which was prepared by melting down some of the stolen bells.
Police also recovered a local .315 bore pistol, one live cartridge, and three illegal knives from the possession of the accused, raising further concerns about the gang’s criminal activities.
Accused have long criminal histories
Additional Superintendent of Police Rural Tejveer Singh said all seven accused are notorious and have serious criminal antecedents. He informed that two of the accused Dildar and Sagir have around two dozen criminal cases each against them. While Nazim, Rajuddin, and Ali Mulla are facing almost 18 cases each ranging from theft to other serious offences.
The officer added that the gang was operating in an organised manner and targeting temples falling in rural areas, where the presence of security is relatively low.