Rajasthan ANTF arrests fugitive drug kingpin in Kerala after 7 years on the run
Synopsis
A fugitive drug smuggler who spent seven years hiding in Kerala — learning three local languages and running a blanket shop as cover — has been caught by Rajasthan's ANTF after a 2,500-kilometre operation. The arrest lifts the lid on a cross-state poppy husk network that allegedly paid him up to ₹2 lakh per consignment.
Key Takeaways
Ranjeet Dayma alias Ranjeet Banjara , a resident of Manasa, Neemuch district, Madhya Pradesh , was arrested on 23 June under Operation Yamlakamali .
He had been evading arrest for seven years and carried a reward of ₹25,000 .
ANTF personnel travelled nearly 2,500 kilometres from Rajasthan to Kerala to apprehend him.
Ranjeet allegedly earned ₹500 per kilogram of poppy husk, with per-consignment earnings of up to ₹2 lakh for loads between 100–500 kg .
He concealed his identity by learning Kannada, Telugu, and Malayalam and operating a blanket shop in Vadakkanchery, Kerala .
The accused is now in Rajasthan and is being interrogated for further leads on the interstate narcotics network.
The Rajasthan Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) has arrested a ₹25,000 reward-carrying fugitive drug smuggler who had been evading law enforcement for seven years by living under a false identity in Kerala. The accused, Ranjeet Dayma alias Ranjeet Banjara, a resident of Manasa in Madhya Pradesh's Neemuch district, was apprehended on 23 June under a special operation codenamed Operation Yamlakamali.
How the Operation Unfolded
The breakthrough came after intelligence gathered from Ramesh Banjara, an alleged narcotics trafficker arrested earlier by the ANTF under Operation Madavikadhat. According to ANTF Inspector General Vikas Kumar, Ranjeet was a close associate and relative of Ramesh and played a pivotal role in the narcotics network's supply chain.
To track down the fugitive, ANTF personnel travelled nearly 2,500 kilometres from Rajasthan to Kerala, conducting reconnaissance while posing as artisans from Rajasthan. Learning that Ranjeet had moved to the hilly Nelliampathi region to sell blankets, officers posed as prospective customers and lured him to their vehicle on the pretext of a large purchase before taking him into custody.
A Fugitive Who Mastered Local Languages
Investigators said Ranjeet had gone to extraordinary lengths to conceal his identity. He reportedly learned Kannada, Telugu, and Malayalam, and in the Shoranur region spoke Malayalam so fluently that local residents believed he was a native — allowing him to remain undetected despite an active warrant in Rajasthan.
As a cover, he operated a blanket shop in Vadakkanchery, Kerala, travelling nearly 150 kilometres daily on a motorcycle to sell blankets. Investigators suspect he periodically returned to Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh to maintain links with the smuggling network before retreating to Kerala.
His Role in the Narcotics Network
Police investigations revealed that while Ramesh Banjara allegedly negotiated narcotics deals, Ranjeet handled the transportation and distribution of contraband from safe houses. He reportedly earned commissions of around ₹500 per kilogram of poppy husk (doda-chura). For consignments ranging between 100 and 500 kilograms, his alleged earnings ranged from ₹50,000 to ₹2 lakh per delivery.
What Happens Next
During preliminary questioning, Ranjeet allegedly admitted to supplying poppy husk across multiple states, including Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. He reportedly told investigators that he was unaware of the number of cases registered against him and did not know which state's police force had arrested him. The accused has been brought to Rajasthan and is currently being interrogated for further leads on the interstate narcotics network.
Point of View
Builds a credible business cover, and travels 150 kilometres daily to stay off the radar is not a low-level courier — he is a supply-chain professional. The ANTF's 2,500-kilometre pursuit also underscores a structural problem: fugitives exploit India's federal policing boundaries with relative ease, moving between states with different jurisdictions and databases. Until inter-state narcotics intelligence is genuinely real-time and shared, such seven-year gaps between a warrant and an arrest will remain the norm rather than the exception.
NationPress
23 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Ranjeet Dayma alias Ranjeet Banjara?
Ranjeet Dayma, also known as Ranjeet Banjara, is a resident of Manasa in Madhya Pradesh's Neemuch district and an alleged narcotics trafficker linked to an interstate poppy husk smuggling network. He was a close associate and relative of Ramesh Banjara, another alleged trafficker previously arrested by the Rajasthan ANTF.
What is Operation Yamlakamali?
Operation Yamlakamali is a special operation launched by the Rajasthan Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) that led to the arrest of fugitive smuggler Ranjeet Banjara in Kerala after seven years. The operation was triggered by intelligence gathered during an earlier operation, Operation Madavikadhat, which had resulted in the arrest of Ramesh Banjara.
How did Ranjeet Banjara hide from police for seven years?
Ranjeet hid in remote areas of Kerala, learning Kannada, Telugu, and Malayalam to blend into local communities. He operated a blanket shop in Vadakkanchery as a cover identity and reportedly spoke Malayalam so fluently in the Shoranur region that residents believed he was a local.
What was Ranjeet Banjara's role in the narcotics network?
According to investigators, Ranjeet handled the transportation and distribution of poppy husk (doda-chura) from safe houses while his associate Ramesh Banjara allegedly negotiated deals. He reportedly earned ₹500 per kilogram, with earnings of ₹50,000 to ₹2 lakh per consignment of 100 to 500 kilograms.
What happens to Ranjeet Banjara now?
Ranjeet Banjara has been brought to Rajasthan, where he is currently being interrogated by the ANTF for further leads on the interstate narcotics network. He allegedly admitted during preliminary questioning to supplying poppy husk across multiple states, including Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
