Aman Sahu Encounter: In one of the stranger stories about outlaws, one of the worst ones, Aman Sahu of Jharkhand, was killed in a police encounter on Tuesday morning. When Aman was being transported under police guard by the police from Chainpur, in Palamu district, the gangster’s men attempted to snatch him away. Aman Sahu lives close by in the Chhota Nagpur Plateau region of India.
A known associate of the other infamous outlaw, Lawrence Bishnoi, Aman Sahu was wanted in more than 150 cases of crime in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and other states. His death closes an era of bloody crimes against millions of civilians that had been an ongoing nightmare for the society in the region.
The First Encounter: Bloodshed
The Special Task Force (STF) was taking Aman Sahu from Raipur to Ranchi for interrogation regarding recent white-collar crimes. The police vehicle was ambushed by Sahu’s gang by a sudden bomb explosion on the Andhari road passing Chainpur. Using the confusion and chaos around the sudden bomb explosion, Aman allegedly took the firearm from one officer and attempted to escape.
In the encounter, Aman Sahu drew his pistol against the policemen attempting to capture him, and the STF fired back. The battle ended with Aman Sahu shot dead, and Palamu SP Rishma Rameshan confirmed his killing, along with an injury to one officer. An ambulance was immediately summoned, but Aman succumbed to injuries.
Who Was Gangsters Aman Sahu?
Aman Sahu came from a village called Matve, situated in Ranchi’s Budhmu police station area. Gradually, he would become one of the most dangerous criminals in the state of Jharkhand. He shares ties with Lawrence Bishnoi, a high-profile gangster having a stronghold across countrywide criminal activities. The area of crime-related activities for him includes extortion, murder, and organized attacks against businesspersons and common men.
Earlier imprisoned in Saraikela jail in Jharkhand, Aman was shifted to Raipur jail in October of 2004 on a production warrant. Even from behind bars, he continued to mastermind crimes using virtual numbers along with his loyal gang members. His out-of-prison influence made him a great threat to police officers.
A Trail of Crimes
Aman Sahu had an extensive criminal history. He was convicted in two notorious cases: a Ramgarh incident in Jharkhand for which he was sentenced to six years and a Latehar case for which he received three years. Just days before his death, his gang had claimed responsibility for firing at coal transporter Bipin Mishra in Ranchi, and the police were suspecting Sahu also for the murder of NTPC’s DGM (Dispatch), Kumar Gaurav, in Hazaribagh.
Anurag Gupta, the Director General of Police for Jharkhand, has earlier flagged a worrying trend: criminals like Aman Sahu conspiring from jails. “Most criminal conspiracies in Jharkhand are hatched inside prisons and executed with the help of external gangs,” Gupta stated. Aman marks a death that represents the challenge of countering such crimes faced by law enforcement.
The Aftermath
The issue has engendered mixed reaction throughout the region. The elimination of a dangerous criminal is being celebrated from many quarters, while others cast doubt on the circumstances of his death. The episode also highlights the deep nexus between organized crime and prison systems, thus some are calling for stronger jail reforms.
While Aman Sahu’s death has been hailed as a great achievement for the Jharkhand police, it also serves to remind the police of the never-ending struggle against organized crime. As investigations continue, the authorities are determined to rip apart the networks that enabled Sahu’s reign of terror.