19-year-old held for blinding elderly man with chilli powder, snatching gold chain in UP's Wazirganj

A 19-year-old man nicknamed ‘Shooter’ was arrested on Monday for allegedly throwing chilli powder into an elderly man’s eyes before snatching his gold chain in Wazirganj. Police recovered a piece of the stolen chain from him, nearly a week after the robbery.

The accused was identified as Khushhal Kashyap alias Tushar alias Shooter, a resident of Madeyganj. He was arrested near the railway tracks close to the fruit market, beneath the under-construction Green Corridor bridge, police said.

According to a complaint filed by the victim’s son, Ashish Kumar Verma, two unidentified men attacked his father on October 26, throwing chilli powder into his eyes before snatching the gold chain from his neck and fleeing.

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Wazirganj police registered an FIR under Section 304(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Acting on local intelligence and an informer’s tip-off, police identified and arrested Kashyap on November 2. The police release also mentioned Section 317(2) of the BNS.

Police said they recovered a piece of the stolen chain from his possession. During questioning, the accused allegedly said he had fallen into bad company and sought forgiveness. Further investigation is underway to establish the identity and role of the second person allegedly involved in the robbery.