Ranchi/Raipur, Mar 13: Notorious gangster Aman Sahu, accused in over 100 cases of murder, kidnapping, and extortion, was killed in a gunfight with the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) of Jharkhand Police in Palamu district, Jharkhand, on Tuesday morning, police officials said.
The encounter took place around 9:30 AM in the Andhari Dhodha Valley under Chainpur Police Station limits when Sahu’s gang attempted to free him from police custody. The gangster was being transported from Raipur Central Jail in Chhattisgarh to Ranchi on transit remand for interrogation in two cases on March 8 murder of NTPC Deputy General Manager Kumar Gaurav and the March 7 attempted murder of coal trader Vipin Mishra, police said.
According to a statement from Palamu police, “Taking advantage of the forest, Aman Sahu’s henchmen started firing on the police while hurling bombs to free him from custody.” Palamu Superintendent of Police (SP) Reeshma Ramesan said Sahu snatched an INSAS rifle from an STF jawan during the chaos and opened fire, prompting police to retaliate in self-defense. “Taking advantage of the chaos, Sahu snatched an INSAS rifle from an STF jawan and fired at him, prompting the police to retaliate in self-defence, leading to Sahu’s death,” she stated. An ATS jawan, Rakesh Kumar, sustained injuries during the encounter, police added.
Sahu, a feared gangster in Jharkhand and neighboring states, was convicted in two cases and sentenced to six years in jail in Ramgarh district and three years in Latehar district. Police said his gang was active in organized crime, including extortion and contract killings. Three days before his death, his gang claimed responsibility for the attack on coal trader Vipin Mishra in Ranchi.
The encounter has sparked discussions in the Jharkhand Assembly, with JD(U) legislator Saryu Roy seeking clarity on the circumstances of Sahu’s killing.
