Ranchi/Jamtara, Aug 3 (IANS) An alert has been issued in several districts of Jharkhand, including Dhanbad, Ranchi, Palamu, Ramgarh, and Jamtara, on Monday after gangster Sujit Sinha was killed in a police encounter.
The killing of the notorious gangster in a late-night police encounter in Jamtara has brought to a close one of the state's most feared chapters of organised crime.
Accused in more than 75 criminal cases, including murder, extortion, kidnapping, Arms Act violations and other serious offences, Sinha had for nearly two decades remained a symbol of fear across several districts, particularly in the coal belt and Palamu region.
Although serving a life sentence in the high-profile Palamu double murder case, Sinha was allegedly continuing to run his criminal syndicate from behind bars.
According to police, he was being transferred from Sahibganj Divisional Jail to Dhanbad Divisional Jail on Sunday late evening when the incident occurred.
Police said the prison convoy was travelling along the Sahibganj-Govindpur National Highway when one of the escort vehicles suffered a tyre puncture between Supaidih and Kendbona in Jamtara district.
During the process of shifting Sinha to another vehicle, he allegedly seized a weapon from a security personnel and attempted to flee.
Officers claim that he opened fire on the police team, prompting retaliatory action. Sinha sustained critical injuries in the exchange of fire and later died.
News of the encounter spread rapidly on Monday, drawing a large number of local residents to the spot.
Jamtara Police cordoned off the area and launched a detailed forensic examination. A team from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) collected evidence, while senior police officials inspected the site and reviewed the sequence of events. The crime scene was scientifically documented and all material evidence secured.
Sinha's body was subsequently sent for postmortem examination. Police officials said the autopsy is being conducted by a board of doctors in accordance with National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) guidelines, with the entire procedure being videographed.
A magisterial inquiry into the encounter has also been initiated.
A native of Medininagar in Palamu district, Sinha first emerged in the criminal underworld as a sharpshooter for the late Hazaribagh-based don Sushil Srivastava. He later built an independent criminal empire that extended across Dhanbad, Bokaro, Ramgarh, Ranchi, Palamu, Latehar, Chatra and several other districts.
His gang was notorious for extorting money from coal traders, railway contractors, builders and other businessmen.
Investigating agencies have long maintained that despite his imprisonment, Sinha continued to operate his syndicate through mobile phones and trusted associates. Police allege that his wife, Riya Sinha, along with other aides, played an active role in managing extortion proceeds and coordinating gang operations.
In recent months, law enforcement agencies had arrested several members linked to the syndicate and claimed to have recovered weapons and other incriminating materials.
Investigations have also indicated links between Sinha's network and the gang of absconding Dhanbad-based gangster Prince Khan. Police and central agencies are probing alleged hawala channels, extortion rackets reportedly being directed from abroad, and networks involved in the supply of sophisticated firearms.
Following Sinha's death, Jharkhand Police have issued alerts across Dhanbad, Ranchi, Palamu, Ramgarh, Jamtara and other sensitive districts. Authorities fear that the rest of his gang members or rival criminal groups may attempt to exploit the situation.
Intelligence units have therefore been put on high alert as police move to dismantle the remaining structure of the syndicate and prevent any resurgence of organised criminal activity.
