Hazaribagh: Hazaribagh Police have achieved significant success during an ongoing campaign against organized crime in the district. Four individuals linked to the Rahul Dubey and Prince Khan gangs were arrested in separate operations conducted by the police in the Barkagaon and Giddi police station areas. Police recovered country-made bombs, country-made pistols, live ammunition, spent cartridges, mobile phones, and pamphlets from the accused.
According to the police, on August 7, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by Barkagaon SDPO Amit Anand received information that Ankit Kumar Pandey, an active member of the Prince Khan gang, was in contact with the gang. Interrogation and mobile phone analysis revealed that he had been communicating with Prince Khan gang members via calls and chats. The police took him into custody for questioning.
During interrogation, Ankit admitted to his involvement in a shooting incident on the night of July 25 at Transport Road (near 13 Mile) in the Barkagaon police station area and to distributing pamphlets in the gang’s name. Subsequently, acting on information provided by him, the police arrested two other alleged associates: Om Prakash Pandey (alias Kaushal) and Kunal Kumar Pandey.
During the operation, police were in the process of recovering weapons and other materials near a defunct gas plant along the Pipradih-Chandaul road. At that moment, according to the police, Ankit attempted to flee and fired a shot using a country-made pistol he had concealed on his person. Police retaliated, and Ankit was shot in the leg. He was immediately sent for medical treatment. Weapons, bombs, and pamphlets were recovered from the scene. An FIR has been registered at the Barkagaon police station regarding the matter.
Accused supplying weapons and bombs also arrested
During the same campaign, police received information that Karma Kumar Sahu supplied weapons and bombs to the Rahul Dubey and Prince Khan gangs, coordinating via social media apps. The police took him into custody for questioning. Based on information obtained during interrogation and the location pointed out by the suspect, a bomb and a magazine for a country-made pistol—which had been concealed in the Sadhu Kutiya forest area—were recovered. Karma Kumar Sahu was also arrested. According to the police, the items seized from the arrested individuals include two country-made bombs, one country-made pistol, one live round, one spent shell, one misfired round, five mobile phones, and four pamphlets. The arrested individuals have been identified as Ankit Kumar Pandey, Om Prakash Pandey (alias Kaushal), Kunal Kumar Pandey, and Karma Kumar Sahu. The police stated that there are prior cases registered against Karma Kumar Sahu. Investigations are underway regarding the supply of weapons and bombs to the Rahul Dubey and Prince Khan gangs, as well as activities involving extortion and the creation of an atmosphere of fear among coal traders, contractors, and others. The operation involved personnel from the Barkagaon and Giddi police stations, along with teams from the technical wing and the organized crime unit.
