Feared gangster Aman Sao, alias Aman Sahu, was shot dead in a police encounter in Jharkhand’s Palamu district.

Sao’s criminal empire spanned across Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, involving extortion, contract killings, and organized crime.

Despite being lodged in Raipur Central Jail, Chhattisgarh, Sao continued to orchestrate violent crimes through his gang.

Sao’s criminal syndicate had deep-rooted connections with the notorious Lawrence Bishnoi gang, significantly amplifying his criminal empire across states.

By Akshay Lahre
Raipur (Chhattisgarh)/Palamu (Jharkhand) ।  Ending the long reign of terror unleashed by notorious gangster Aman Sao, the Jharkhand Police on Tuesday shot him dead in a fierce encounter in Andhari Dhoda under Chainpur Block of Palamu district, approximately 566 kilometers from Raipur, Chhattisgarh. Sao, who also went by the name Aman Sahu, had been a prime figure in organized crime, terrorizing businessmen and contractors across Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh with extortion, contract killings, and targeted violence.

Gunfight after convoy overturns, Sao snatches rifle

According to senior Chhattisgarh Police officials, who cited information received from their Jharkhand counterparts, the encounter occurred while Sao was being transported from Raipur to Ranchi for interrogation regarding two high-profile shooting incidents in Jharkhand. On March 7, coal businessman Bipin Mishra was shot in Bariatu, and a day later, NTPC DGM Kumar Gaurav was targeted in Hazaribagh. Both crimes were believed to be orchestrated under Sao’s orders from behind bars.

“During the transit, the convoy carrying Sao lost control and overturned. Taking advantage of the situation, his aides staged an ambush to free him. Amid the chaos, Sao snatched an INSAS rifle from a security personnel and opened fire on the police,” a senior Chhattisgarh Police official said. “In a swift retaliatory response, our team shot him dead on the spot,” the official added.

The ambush also led to a brief crossfire, leaving one police officer injured, though he is reported to be stable now.

Commanding crimes from Raipur Jail

Investigations have revealed that Sao had been operating his criminal syndicate from Raipur Central Jail for the past three and a half months. His gang members remained active in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, primarily targeting coal traders, transporters, real estate businessmen, and contractors.

“Despite being incarcerated, Sao orchestrated crimes through coded messages and social media platforms. His henchmen would commit crimes, and Sao’s gang would then claim responsibility through social media,” confirmed a senior police official.

Chhattisgarh Police had earlier arrested four shooters linked to both the Lawrence Bishnoi and Aman Sao gangs in Raipur. These gunmen were allegedly plotting attacks on high-profile businessmen under Sao’s instructions, confirming his expanding control over organized crime across states.

Political ambitions crushed by the court

Sao did not limit himself to crime alone — he harbored political ambitions as well. In 2024, he filed a nomination to contest the Jharkhand Assembly elections from Barkagaon Assembly Seat, despite having over 150 criminal cases registered against him. When the Jharkhand High Court refused to grant him permission to contest elections, citing his grave threat to public order, Sao moved an intervention petition seeking approval to fight elections from jail, which the bench of Justice S.K. Dwivedi outrightly rejected.

Gaining infamy through social media

Sao’s criminal syndicate was also notorious for boasting about their crimes through social media. After orchestrating a firing, murder, or attack, his gang members would immediately post updates on social media platforms, claiming responsibility for the act. This was done to create an atmosphere of terror and to establish their dominance.

“His gang would also inform local media houses through virtual numbers after executing violent crimes, further amplifying fear among local businessmen,” revealed a police official. The police have now launched a fresh crackdown to dismantle his remaining network.

Lawrence Bishnoi gang connection exposed

Further investigations have also confirmed that Sao shared strong links with the notorious Lawrence Bishnoi gang. The arrested shooters in Raipur revealed that Sao and Bishnoi’s syndicates were collaborating to spread organized crime in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. Sao was reportedly receiving logistical and operational support from Bishnoi’s network while he remained in jail.

“It is now confirmed that Aman Sao was actively coordinating with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang to expand his crime syndicate in Chhattisgarh. Their alliance posed a major security challenge for both states,” a senior police official confirmed.

Sao’s criminal empire dismantled, but caution remains

Following Sao’s death, police have begun intensive search operations to round up his remaining associates and dismantle his crime infrastructure. However, officials remain cautious, citing the possibility of retaliatory attacks by his remaining gang members.

“His death is a major breakthrough in tackling organized crime, but our job is not done yet. We are now focused on eliminating every surviving member of his syndicate,” a senior police official emphasized.

Authorities also confirmed that Sao had multiple extortion cases registered in Raipur and was responsible for plotting multiple assassinations from behind bars. Now, the police are intensifying interstate coordination to ensure that his criminal network is permanently dismantled.

With Aman Sao’s reign of terror now officially ended, police agencies are leaving no stone unturned to ensure his empire is reduced to rubble.