LUCKNOW, April 14 -- Three women of a gang that exploited and cheated at least 13 older single men in the name of marriage were arrested in Hardoi on Sunday, police said.

Hardoi (City) circle officer (CO) Ankit Mishra said the three women-Sonam alias Pooja, Asha alias Guddi and Sunita, all of whom hail from Hardoi-were arrested in connection with two cases registered with Hardoi police on March 5 and January 23. He said the arrests helped police find out that the women were part of an organised gang run by one Pramod Kumar.

He said the gang targeted older unmarried men. After the men married younger women, the gang fled with valuables and belongings promised to the women before the marriage. Sometimes, family members of the grooms were ...