In a shocking daylight crime, six men returning from Saudi Arabia were abducted by armed criminals impersonating police officers. The incident unfolded on the busy Delhi-Lucknow Highway near the Purana Tola toll plaza in Moradabad district at around 5pm on Friday.
The victims — Naved, Shane Alam, Mutallavi, Zahid, and Zulfekar — all hailed from Tanda in Rampur district. They were traveling from Delhi Airport toward their hometown when the ambush occurred. According to police, a gang of impostors had received intelligence about gold smuggling and carried out the abduction with chilling precision.
“gold concealed in their stomachs” emerged as the central motive behind the crime. Acting on a tip-off that the travelers had gold concealed in their stomachs, the criminals launched their deceptive operation.
Zulfekar, who was behind the wheel, had earlier dropped off another family at the airport. He then agreed to give the five returning men a ride home. As they passed through the Mainather Mudha Pandey border, two suspicious vehicles suddenly intercepted them. One man wore a police uniform, and a fake inspector’s cap lay on the dashboard to boost their disguise.
The gang pretended to conduct a routine security check. Within moments, they overpowered the group at gunpoint and abducted them. The victims informed the police that the criminals forcibly moved them into another vehicle.
Fortunately, swift police action followed. The Moradabad police initiated a chase and quickly tracked the suspects. After a dramatic shootout, all six abducted men were rescued unharmed. The authorities confirmed that the rescue operation was successful and commended the officers involved.
Investigations are ongoing to identify the full network behind the heist. Police are also verifying how the accused received the information about gold concealed in their stomachs.
This brazen attack highlights growing concerns about highway safety and smuggling-related crimes. Law enforcement agencies are urging travelers to remain cautious, especially near high-risk routes.
Officials have confirmed that more arrests may follow in the coming days. The case continues to unfold, with “gold concealed in their stomachs” being the driving thread of the investigation.
