PRAYAGRAJ, April 9 -- In a major breakthrough, the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (UP STF) on Tuesday arrested two wanted criminals linked to the infamous inter-state Barwar gang, including its leader, near the entry/exit gate of Badshahnagar Railway Station in Lucknow around 10.30am. The arrested individuals have been identified as Harishchandra, a resident of Balthu Ka Purwa, Bangai under Dhanepur police station in Gonda district, and Sohanlal, a resident of Cheda Ka Purwa in Moodadiha village, also under Dhanepur police station in Gonda, STF officials said in a communique on Tuesday. Police said Harishchandra has around 17 cases of heinous crimes registered against him across police stations in Rae Bareli, Bahraich, Ayodhya, Kushinagar, Gonda, Chitrakoot, Pratapgarh, Basti, and Sultanpur districts. Sohanlal has around 10 cases registered against him in districts including Pratapgarh, Sultanpur, Bahraich, Balrampur, and Gonda. Following their arrest, both Harishchandra and Sohanlal have been booked under Case No. 232/2025, Sections 2/3 of the Uttar Pradesh Gangsters Act at Kunda Police Station in Pratapgarh district. Further legal proceedings are underway. According to officials, the STF had been receiving inputs in recent days about increased activity of wanted criminals carrying rewards across Uttar Pradesh. Acting on these inputs, multiple STF units were directed to intensify intelligence gathering and initiate necessary action. The operation was conducted under the supervision of Deputy superintendent of police Pramesh Kumar Shukla. Based on specific intelligence gathered by the STF's Ayodhya unit, a team led by sub-inspector Saurabh Mishra, along with other personnel, was deployed in Lucknow for surveillance. During the operation, the team received a tip-off that the Barwar gang leader, along with an accomplice, was planning to move from the vicinity of Badshahnagar Railway Station. Acting swiftly, the STF team intercepted and arrested both accused at the spot. During interrogation, the accused confessed to being active members of the Barwar gang and admitted involvement in criminal activities such as robbery, theft, snatching....