Four of Bihar’s most-wanted criminals — including the alleged Sigma Gang leader Ranjan Pathak — were killed in an early-morning joint operation by the Delhi Police Crime Branch and Bihar Police in Rohini. Officials say the encounter broke out after police moved to intercept the suspects; a fierce exchange of fire followed and all four were later declared dead at a nearby hospital.
Police sources say the operation was triggered by specific intelligence that the group was planning violent activity ahead of the Bihar assembly elections. The incident has already prompted rapid statements from law-enforcement and political leaders, while residents in the gang’s home district of Sitamarhi are processing shock and cautious relief.
The Encounter — Timeline and Official Account
According to police briefings, the shootout occurred at around 2:20 a.m. on the intervening night of October 22–23, 2025, in the Rohini area of northwest Delhi when officers tried to stop the vehicle carrying the suspects. The suspects allegedly opened fire on the joint team, which returned fire; the four sustained gunshot injuries and were declared dead after being taken to Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital, Rohini.
Delhi Police and Bihar Police say the operation was the culmination of days of surveillance and coordination after intelligence indicated the gang had taken shelter in the national capital following a series of murders in Sitamarhi. Officials described the action as a pre-emptive move to foil a possible attack planned around the election period.
Who Were the Four Suspects?
The deceased have been identified as Ranjan Pathak (25), Bimlesh Mahto alias Bimlesh Sahni (25), Manish Pathak (33), and Aman Thakur (21). Ranjan Pathak is reported to be the leader of the group known in media and police briefings as the “Sigma” or “Sigma and Company” gang. Several outlets note that the members were wanted in multiple cases of murder, extortion, and organised crime across Bihar.
Police statements also mention cross-border activity — the gang reportedly had links into Nepal-border areas and are accused of being contract killers and extortionists who operated from safe havens outside Bihar. Investigators say that a recently leaked audio clip, which allegedly revealed plans to create unrest before the polls, put the group back on the radar.
Political Fallout — Will This Affect the Bihar Elections?
Security analysts and state officials view the encounter as a short-term stabiliser for law and order in Bihar ahead of elections, arguing that removing operatives allegedly plotting pre-poll violence reduces immediate risk of coordinated attacks. Political parties, however, are already trading accusations — some claim the timing and publicity of the operation will be politicised, while others welcome the crackdown as evidence of robust policing.
State police sources told reporters the operation was motivated purely by criminal intelligence; nevertheless, the episode is likely to become a point of debate in campaign narratives and media coverage during the coming days.
Reaction from Sitamarhi and Local Residents
In Sitamarhi — where the gang and several victims were based — residents expressed a mix of relief and unease: relief that alleged perpetrators are no longer free, but unease about whether the killings close outstanding criminal probes or will complicate legal accountability. Local civic leaders told reporters that the gang’s recent spree of murders had created panic, and some hope the encounter will restore a measure of normalcy.
Families of victims and community groups have demanded thorough investigations and transparent sharing of evidence so that wider criminal networks behind the killings can be exposed — not just the operatives eliminated in the encounter.
What Happens Next — Investigation, Forensics and Follow-Up
Police say forensic procedures, weapon recovery and case linkage will be prioritised to confirm the suspects’ involvement in earlier murders and to trace any handlers, financiers or cross-border links. Bihar and Delhi police teams are expected to file charges in relevant FIRs and share evidence with district prosecutors. Authorities have also indicated they will probe the chain of intelligence that led to the operation to ensure protocol was followed.
Analysts caution that while the elimination of leading operatives is a tactical win, dismantling the gang’s infrastructure will require further arrests, witness protection for those willing to testify, and cross-border cooperation to close escape routes and hideouts. The coming days will likely reveal whether the encounter yields actionable intelligence that leads to broader disruption of the gang’s network.
Short News Summary (for quick reads)
Four dreaded members of Bihar’s Sigma Gang, including the notorious Ranjan Pathak, were killed in a dramatic Delhi encounter early Wednesday. The joint Delhi–Bihar Police operation unfolded around 2:20 a.m. in Rohini after officers intercepted the gang, who allegedly opened fire first. All four were wanted in multiple murder and extortion cases in Bihar and were reportedly plotting violence ahead of the upcoming state elections. Among the slain were Pathak, Bimlesh Mahto, Manish Pathak and Aman Thakur. Officials confirmed the gang had been operating for years, spreading fear across Sitamarhi and adjoining regions. Police hailed the encounter as a major breakthrough, while analysts believe it could have ripple effects on Bihar’s pre-poll security climate.
Extended Investigation and Analysis
The Sigma Gang encounter in Delhi marks a significant escalation in India’s crackdown on inter-state organised crime. Ranjan Pathak, once considered Bihar’s most dangerous contract killer, had evaded capture for over six years, allegedly coordinating killings from Nepal. Intelligence reports show that his gang had been planning disruptive acts ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections, potentially to influence voter sentiment through fear. Following an intercepted audio clip, Bihar Police traced their movement to Delhi, where a coordinated strike was planned with the Crime Branch.
The encounter’s timing — just weeks before elections — has raised political speculation. Some opposition voices have called for transparency, while ruling leaders have praised the operation as “a decisive blow to criminal politics.” Police have initiated forensic and ballistics tests, aiming to connect the recovered weapons to recent murders in Sitamarhi. With four top operatives dead, investigators are now targeting the gang’s financiers and cross-border associates still believed to be in hiding in Nepal and Uttar Pradesh.
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About the Author:
Harshit Raj
