Five Robberies and Attempted Murders in Two Nights; Kingpin Injured, Nine Accused Held
Janjgir–Champa : In a major crackdown on organised crime, the Janjgir–Champa police have dismantled a notorious criminal gang that had unleashed a reign of terror across the district. A police–criminal encounter took place in the Shivरीनारायण and Pamgarh police station areas, during which the gang’s mastermind Ramnath sustained a bullet injury to his leg in retaliatory police firing.
The gang was allegedly involved in five incidents of dacoity, assault and attempted murder over two consecutive nights, openly challenging law and order. So far, seven accused have been arrested, two juveniles have been taken into protective custody, while Ramnath, the ninth accused, has been admitted to hospital under police guard following the encounter.
Terror over two nights, 13 civilians injured
According to police, between the nights of January 27 and 29, 2026, the gang carried out a series of violent attacks in the Pamgarh and Shivरीनारायण areas. Targeting isolated roads, the accused intercepted unsuspecting commuters and launched life-threatening attacks on their heads using iron rods, pipes and sticks, before looting mobile phones and cash.
As many as 13 civilians were injured in these incidents, of whom two remain in critical condition. The injured are undergoing treatment in hospitals in Bilaspur and Raipur, while one victim is reported to be in a coma.
Encounter during police cordon, kingpin shot
During a late-night operation to nab the ninth accused, Ramnath opened fire at the police using a country-made pistol. Police retaliated in self-defence, injuring him in the leg and bringing him under control. A firearm was recovered from the spot.
Weapons, vehicles and cash seized
Police recovered iron rods, pipes, sticks, belts, several motorcycles, a scooter, mobile phones and cash from the accused. The total value of the seized property is estimated at ₹4.09 lakh.
List of injured
Shivरीनारायण police station area
- Mukesh Rai Sagar – critical, admitted to ICU
- Aman Banjare – critical, admitted to ICU
- Deepak Kumar Kashyap – head injury
- Prashant Kashyap – injured
- Aniket Rai Sagar – head injury
- Aryan – minor injuries
- Sumit Banjare – minor injuries
Pamgarh police station area
- Kailash Das Manikpuri
- Basant Das
- Shubham Yadav
- Sanjeev Kurre
- Ashish Vani
- Sukhnandan Kashyap
- Laxman Yadav – serious injuries
Arrested accused
- Nikhil Tandon
- Maniram Gond
- Naresh Yadav
- Roshan Tandon
- Ayush Ratre
6–7. Two juveniles in conflict with law - Sunny
- Ramnath (injured in encounter)
Modus operandi
Police investigations revealed that the gang was highly organised and extremely violent. Moving in groups on motorcycles, the accused targeted dark and deserted stretches, attacked victims directly on the head to incapacitate them, and fled with looted cash and mobile phones. Creating fear through repeated attacks in a single night was part of their strategy.
Legal action
Multiple cases have been registered at Shivरीनारायण and Pamgarh police stations under stringent provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). All accused have been sent to judicial remand.
Zero tolerance against crime
Senior police officials stated that the swift and decisive action has restored a sense of security in the district. Reiterating a zero-tolerance policy towards crime, they warned that anyone attempting to disrupt law and order would face strict and uncompromising action.
