Prayagraj — Ashish Ranjan alias Chhotu Singh, a wanted mafia figure from Jharkhand, was killed during a fierce gunfight with the Uttar Pradesh STF late Wednesday night in the Shankargarh area of Prayagraj.
Ranjan, armed with an AK-47 and a 9 mm pistol, fired at STF personnel when intercepted, triggering a retaliatory exchange that left him fatally wounded.
A resident of J.C. Malik Road in Dhanbad, he was involved in multiple murders and carried a cash reward. STF Inspector J.P. Rai, based on a tip-off, set up a trap near Shivrajpur Chauraha where the gangster was planning a major crime.
During the encounter, Ranjan tried to escape while firing shots, narrowly missing officers. He was injured in the exchange and died at the hospital.
Recovered items included his weapons, ammunition, and a motorcycle. Officials confirmed his involvement in many violent crimes and praised the STF’s timely action.
In another case, the police and SWAT team engaged with Naveed, the prime accused in a recent robbery in Bulandshahr. Naveed was injured in the crossfire, arrested, and taken to the hospital.
Police recovered ₹2.11 lakh cash, a weapon, cartridges, a backpack, and a motorcycle. With four of his accomplices already in custody, authorities confirmed a full recovery of the ₹6.98 lakh stolen.
With inputs from IANS