The UP STF killed Ashish Ranjan, a notorious gangster from Jharkhand, in an encounter in Prayagraj. Known as Chhotu Singh, Ranjan was a major figure in Dhanbad’s criminal underworld, with numerous serious charges against him in Jharkhand, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh. These charges encompassed murder, extortion, robbery, and attempted murder. He was a close associate of the infamous gangster Aman Singh and was involved in Singh’s murder. Following the murder of Aman Singh in Dhanbad jail on December 3, 2023, Ashish Ranjan claimed responsibility for the killing through social media. Ranjan was also involved in the murder of coal businessman Neeraj Tiwari, as well as land traders Sarful Hasan (Lala Khan) and Samir Mandal. Authorities also revealed that Ranjan was involved in supplying high-tech weapons like AK-47s to various gangs in Uttar Pradesh.
