New Delhi: The Ranjan Pathak syndicate operated as judge, jury and executioner, dispensing ruthless verdicts that left law enforcement struggling to assert their authority. “Itne murder karo, itni goli maaro ki SP ka transfer ho jaaye…” — this was the intercepted phone call that prompted a full throttle, multi-state search for Ranjan and his gang, Sigma & Company, three months ago. Incidentally, it was a brazen extortion call he made on Wednesday afternoon, hours before the encounter, that gave away his cover and ended the manhunt.Even as the gang meted out their own brand of justice, Ranjan had been leaving the law enforcement perplexed by sending out press releases after every murder, detailing the reasons for committing the crime. The letterhead of their releases had a ‘motto’ — ‘Nyay, Sewa, Sahyog’ (justice, service, assistance). Cocking a snook at police, they ended the note with: “…Therefore, the person has been sentenced to death.”Ranjan’s presence on Instagram was another sign of his defiance. Active with an ID ending in 302 (IPC section for murder), he would post reels after every crime, showing him on his favourite Bullet motorcycle and flashing a pistol. Internet Protocol detail record analysis of one of these accounts had led police to ascertain that he had moved to Delhi from the Nepal border. Cops from Sitamarhi approached their counterparts in Delhi who, in turn, conducted on-ground verification in trans-Yamuna area, Mayur Vihar, Vasant Kunj and Rohini, as gang members kept changing their location.Ranjan’s rise to a ‘most wanted’ gangster was quick and unexpected. Born into a humble family, his father, Manoj Pathak, was a revenue employee and active in local politics. His mother, Vimla Devi, served as the sarpanch of the local panchayat. His early life was marked by disinterest in education, and he failed his matriculation exams.Ranjan was drawn to a life of crime, allegedly starting with the murder of one Abhay Singh over a dispute involving his sister, for which he was arrested and spent five years in judicial custody. After his release in 2024, he continued to engage in criminal activities. The group initially received patronage from local gang leader Ravi Shankar. Ranjan was allegedly involved in a man’s murder over a dispute related to illicit liquor trade. His father was also implicated in this incident.In a short span, Ranjan’s operations expanded. Malahi, his village in Sitamarhi’s Sursand, bordered Nepal, providing the gang a strategic advantage, as they would quickly cross over to the neighbouring country after every crime. The members were notorious for firing with pistols in each hand.In his press releases, Ranjan would accuse police of ‘wrongly’ arresting his father and harassing his family in a village feud, which he claimed prompted his entry into the world of crime. Aman Thakur, also killed in the encounter, had become his Man Friday, and they recently collaborated with another gangster, Vikas Jha alias Kalia, who is lodged in Tihar.”Many from the erstwhile Santosh Jha gang had joined Ranjan’s gang to fill the void that was created after Jha was killed by rivals in Sitamarhi court,” said an officer.
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