New Delhi, Oct 23: Four wanted gangsters from Bihar, allegedly involved in multiple murders and extortion cases, were shot dead in a police encounter in Delhi’s Rohini area early Thursday, officials said.
The deceased have been identified as Ranjan Pathak (25), Bimlesh Mahto alias Bimlesh Sahni (25), Manish Pathak (33) and Aman Thakur (21), all residents of Sitamarhi district in Bihar. Police said the four were members of the notorious ‘Sigma Gang’ and had been hiding in the national capital for several days.
The shootout occurred around 2.20 am near Bahadur Shah Marg in Rohini when a joint team of Delhi Police and Bihar Police tracked down the suspects following a tip-off. “When the police tried to intercept them, the gang members opened fire. In retaliatory action, all four sustained gunshot injuries,” a senior police officer said.
They were taken to a hospital in Rohini where doctors declared them dead.
According to police, the gang was planning fresh criminal operations in Bihar ahead of the Assembly elections scheduled next month. “Intelligence indicated they intended to strike again before the polls,” an officer said.
Officials said the gang’s kingpin, Ranjan Pathak, carried a cash reward of ₹25,000 and was wanted in at least eight criminal cases, including murder. Police sources said the gang had allegedly killed a person in Bihar soon after the Model Code of Conduct came into effect on October 6.
The operation was launched after Delhi Police received inputs from Bihar Police about the gang’s presence in the city. “Our team worked jointly to neutralise them before they could regroup,” a Delhi Police official added.
The Bihar Assembly elections will be held in two phases on November 6 and 11, with counting scheduled for November 14.
