In a significant breakthrough, Hazaribag police apprehended four armed criminals on Saturday night, including one of the region's most wanted gangsters, Arjun Karmali. The operation, led by a special police team, thwarted planned criminal activities in areas surrounding major coal mines.
Dramatic Raid Near Forest Leads to Arrests
Acting on intelligence, a special team under the supervision of SDPO (Sadar) Amit Anand conducted a raid at Bundu village under Keredari police station. The operation commenced around 7:15 PM on Saturday. As officers approached a kutcha road near a forested area, the four suspects attempted to flee into the jungle. The police team swiftly surrounded the location and successfully captured all individuals.
The arrested men were identified as Arjun Karmali of Budhgu, Samir Kumar Karmali of Bhola Karmali of Bundu, Rahul Kumar of Patal village, and Nikhil Vishwakarma, a resident of Ratanpur under Gawa police station who was currently living in Piparwar, Chatra.
Confessions and Criminal Empire of Arjun Karmali
During interrogation, Arjun Karmali made startling revelations. He confessed to having taken leadership of the notorious Alok gang following the death of gangster Rahul Turi in a police encounter on January 11 in Ramgarh district. Karmali admitted his involvement in multiple criminal incidents with his associates.
One specific crime he confessed to was the shooting of Ruplal Karmali at Bundu village on November 23. According to SP Anjani Anjan, Karmali and his gang were actively planning further criminal activities in the Keredari and Barkagaon areas, regions hosting critical NTPC coal mines. A long list of criminal cases is already registered against Arjun Karmali across police stations in Hazaribag, Ramgarh, Chatra, and Ranchi.
Major Haul of Weapons and Gadgets Recovered
The police recovery from the arrested individuals was substantial, underscoring the threat they posed. The seized items included:
- A country-made carbine
- Three pistols
- Nine live cartridges
- Seven empty shells
- Eight mobile phones
- Two mobile batteries
- One smartwatch
This seizure has potentially prevented several violent crimes and disrupted a major criminal network's operations in the region. The arrest of a figure like Arjun Karmali, who had swiftly ascended to lead a powerful gang, marks a crucial victory for Hazaribag police in maintaining law and order, especially around vital economic infrastructure like coal mines.
