Sitamarhi: An audio clip threatening to “commit enough murders to get the SP transferred before elections” had recently alerted Bihar Police about the rising menace of the notorious Sitamarhi-based gang led by Ranjan Pathak. On Thursday night, the saga of terror ended when Delhi Police Crime Branch and Bihar Police jointly neutralized four key gangsters — Ranjan Pathak, Manish Pathak, Vimlesh Mahato, and Aman Thakur — in an encounter on Bahadur Shah Marg, Rohini area of Delhi.
For the people of Sitamarhi, this encounter brought both shock and relief. The gang, known as Sigma & Company, had unleashed a reign of fear across North Bihar through contract killings, extortion, and illegal liquor trade.
The Encounter
According to Sitamarhi SP Amit Ranjan, the encounter occurred around 2:20 am on October 23 during a joint operation in Rohini. “All four were involved in multiple murder and extortion cases. They were declared dead at BSA Hospital, Rohini,” he said.
Police sources revealed that an audio clip recovered earlier showed Ranjan conspiring to spread violence ahead of the assembly elections. Acting on intelligence inputs, coordinated raids were planned in Delhi and Ludhiana. The encounter ended a months-long chase.
From Village Boy to Bihar’s Most Feared Criminal
Born and raised in Malahi village under Sursand police station limits, Ranjan Pathak’s transformation from a school dropout to a feared gangster is traced back to 2018. Locals in Malahi, located 35 km from the district headquarters, described a tense silence after news of his death spread. His newly built concrete house was locked, and his family members were absconding.
An elderly villager recounted, “He failed in matric and wandered aimlessly. His life changed after his sister’s love affair led to murder.”
In 2018, Ranjan shot dead his sister Ritu Pathak’s lover, Abhayanandan Singh, after discovering their relationship. The killing marked his entry into the criminal world. A retaliatory attack left him injured, and police later arrested him while he was secretly receiving treatment. He spent nearly five years in prison.
Rise of ‘Sigma & Company’
Released in 2024, Ranjan quickly returned to crime. He was caught twice that year with illegal weapons but got bail each time. Soon after, he joined hands with Shashi Kapoor Jha from the Garha area to form Sigma & Company.
The gang grew rapidly, attracting local criminals such as Vimlesh Mahato, Aman Thakur, Rahul Jha, and Deepak Thakur. Their activities ranged from contract killings to liquor smuggling and extortion. Police say they were responsible for at least five murders in the past three months.
After every killing, they sent pamphlets to local media, claiming to be avenging corruption and injustice. Ranjan even threatened the police and businessmen through social media and phone calls, demanding lakhs in extortion.
Political Links and Family Involvement
Ranjan’s father, Manoj Pathak, a former revenue employee and former sarpanch of Malahi Panchayat, is also an accused in the 2025 murder of Aditya Thakur over a liquor trade dispute. Ranjan’s mother, Vimala Devi, currently serves as the panchayat sarpanch, while his brother Hemant and five sisters live between Sitamarhi and Nepal.
Fear and Silence in the Villages
In Malahi, fear was palpable. Villagers refused to speak on camera, and many avoided even mentioning Ranjan’s name. “Whatever he did outside, he never troubled anyone in the village,” said a local youth.
Manish Pathak, one of the slain gang members, hailed from the same area. His family now lives in Delhi’s Raghubir Nagar, where his father runs an electrical shop. Villagers said Manish married a year ago and had a daughter.
SP’s Statement
SP Amit Ranjan confirmed that all four slain criminals were on the wanted list and carried cash rewards of ₹25,000 to ₹50,000 each. “They were behind several murders and extortion attempts. Their elimination marks the end of a major criminal network operating across the Bihar-Nepal border,” he said.
A District at Peace, But Haunted by Memories
The encounter has temporarily lifted the shadow of fear that loomed over Sitamarhi for years. However, the silence in Malahi village reflects a mix of relief and unease — a reminder of how one man’s journey from a small village to the underworld left deep scars across Bihar’s northern frontier.
