Jharkhand gangster shot dead by UP STF in Prayagraj shootout

Prayagraj — In a dramatic late-night encounter on Wednesday, the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) gunned down Ashish Ranjan alias Chhotu Singh, a notorious mafia operative from Jharkhand, in the Shankargarh area of Prayagraj.

Armed with an AK-47 and a 9 mm pistol, the gangster opened fire when approached by the STF. The team retaliated, fatally injuring him.

A native of J.C. Malik Road in Dhanbad, Jharkhand, Ranjan was wanted in several murder cases and carried a bounty. Acting on intelligence that he was planning a major crime near Shivrajpur Chauraha, STF Inspector J.P. Rai and his team set up an ambush.

He attempted to flee while firing at officers, narrowly missing some. He was shot in the crossfire and declared dead in hospital.

Recovered items included an AK-47, a 9 mm pistol, several rounds of ammunition, and a motorcycle. Authorities confirmed his involvement in several serious crimes and applauded the STF for neutralizing him swiftly.

In a separate operation, the SWAT team and police encountered Naveed, the prime accused in the August 4 robbery in Bulandshahr’s Shikarpur. Naveed was wounded in the exchange and later arrested.

Recovered from him were ?2.11 lakh in cash, a pistol, live and spent cartridges, a backpack, and a bike. Four accomplices had already been caught, and police have recovered ?6.98 lakh of the stolen amount, marking full recovery.

With inputs from IANS