Prayagraj STF Nabs Wanted Mafia, Unveils Major Crackdown Effort

The Prayagraj Special Task Force (STF) successfully apprehended notorious mafia figure Ashish Ranjan, alias Chhotu Singh, post a dramatic encounter on Thursday. The operation, announced by the Uttar Pradesh STF, did see three STF officers wounded by gunfire from an AK-47 rifle and a pistol.

Upon receiving intelligence that Chhotu Singh, linked to multiple murder cases, was en route to Prayagraj from Jharkhand, authorities initiated a calculated move to intercept him at Shivrajpur Chauraha. A firefight ensued when Singh attempted to evade capture, injuring three officers who were swiftly hospitalized.

The raid yielded an AK-47 rifle, a 9 mm pistol, and numerous cartridges. This operation dovetails with Uttar Pradesh's ongoing 'Mission Asmita,' which targets illegal religious conversions. The mission has resulted in 14 arrests so far, revealing connections to foreign funding and radical organizations.

(With inputs from agencies.)