New Delhi, Oct 24: In a dramatic late-night operation, four suspected members of Bihar’s dreaded ‘Sigma Gang’ were shot dead in an encounter with a joint team of Delhi Police and Bihar Police in Rohini on Thursday morning.
The deceased were identified as Ranjan Pathak, 25, the alleged kingpin, along with Bimlesh Mahto alias Bimlesh Sahni, 25, Manish Pathak, 33, and Aman Thakur, 21 — all from Sitamarhi district. Police said the gangsters had been holed up in the capital for days and were plotting major crimes in Bihar ahead of next month’s Assembly polls.
The exchange of fire broke out around 2.20 am near Bahadur Shah Marg after police teams, acting on intelligence inputs, surrounded their hideout. “The accused opened fire at our team. We retaliated in self-defence, and all four were injured,” a senior Delhi Police officer said. They were taken to a hospital, where they were declared dead on arrival.
Police sources said the gang was involved in multiple murder and extortion cases and had recently carried out a killing in Bihar after the Model Code of Conduct was enforced on October 6. “They were preparing to strike again before the elections,” said an officer involved in the operation.
Officials added that gang leader Ranjan Pathak carried a ₹25,000 reward on his head and had at least eight cases registered against him. “He was among Bihar’s most wanted criminals,” the source said.
