Six Prince Khan gang members arrested in Jharkhand encounter, arms recovered
Synopsis
Six members of the Prince Khan gang — including a man who admitted working for a second criminal outfit, the KSS Kuber gang — were arrested in a Hazaribagh encounter, with police recovering arms and ammunition. The operation has exposed an extortion network targeting coal traders and transporters in Jharkhand's mining corridor.
Key Takeaways
Jharkhand police arrested six members of the Prince Khan gang on 30 July following an encounter in Barkagaon, Hazaribagh .
Mohammed Joshan sustained a bullet injury to his right leg during retaliatory firing and was found to be working for both the Prince Khan gang and the KSS Kuber gang .
Police recovered 20 rounds of .303-bore live ammunition , a country-made pistol, and additional cartridges from those arrested.
The gang was extorting money from coal traders, transporters, and local businessmen in the Dudkapaath coal mining area .
Raids are ongoing at multiple locations to apprehend remaining gang operatives based on intelligence provided by the arrested accused.
Jharkhand police arrested six members of the Prince Khan gang — a criminal network linked to Dhanbad-based gangster Prince Khan — following an encounter on the 13 Mile Transporting Road in Barkagaon, Hazaribagh district, on 30 July. One accused sustained a bullet injury during the operation, and arms along with live ammunition were recovered from those held.
How the Operation Unfolded
Acting on a tip-off that Prince Khan's network was actively recruiting in the Lohsinghna police station area, a special team was constituted under Barkagaon Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Amit Kumar Singh. Police initially detained two active gang members, whose interrogation led to the arrest of Aman Kumar Singh from Azad Nagar under the Pelawal police station limits, and the identification and apprehension of Mohammed Joshan. Investigators recovered 20 rounds of .303-bore live ammunition from the duo's possession.
Encounter in the Coal Mining Area
Further interrogation revealed that gang members were extorting money from coal traders, transporters, and local businessmen through firearms and intimidation. Acting on those disclosures, the police team raided the Dudkapaath coal mining area. Upon spotting officers, the suspects allegedly opened fire, triggering a retaliatory exchange. Mohammed Joshan was shot in his right leg during the encounter, while others fled into a nearby forest. A country-made pistol and additional live cartridges were recovered from Joshan.
Double Gang Operative
According to police, Joshan admitted during interrogation that he worked for both the Prince Khan gang and the KSS Kuber gang, collecting levy money from coal traders in the area. Investigators said the arrested accused have provided crucial information about the gang's network, associates, and absconding members. Raids are currently under way at multiple locations to apprehend remaining operatives.
Background: Organised Crime in Jharkhand's Coal Belt
The Prince Khan gang is reportedly one of several criminal outfits that have long exploited Jharkhand's coal-rich districts, running extortion rackets targeting the mining and transport ecosystem. The Dudkapaath area, located within the coal mining corridor, has been a known hotspot for gang activity. This operation is part of a broader state-level effort to dismantle organised crime networks embedded in the region's extractive economy.
Point of View
Fluid web of operatives. The fact that extortion of coal traders and transporters remains the primary revenue model is a structural problem: as long as the mining economy operates with limited formal oversight, armed groups will continue to treat it as a tax base. Dismantling individual cells, however efficiently, will not break the cycle unless the state addresses the economic conditions that make gang membership attractive and levy collection viable.
NationPress
30 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Prince Khan and why is his gang significant?
Prince Khan is a Dhanbad-based gangster whose criminal network has been active in Jharkhand's coal belt, reportedly running extortion rackets targeting coal traders, transporters, and local businessmen. His gang is considered one of the more organised criminal outfits in the region.
What happened during the Hazaribagh encounter on 30 July?
Jharkhand police raided the Dudkapaath coal mining area in Barkagaon, Hazaribagh, after gang members allegedly opened fire on the police team. In the exchange, accused Mohammed Joshan was shot in the right leg. Six persons were arrested in total, and arms along with ammunition were seized.
What arms and ammunition were recovered?
Police recovered 20 rounds of .303-bore live ammunition, a country-made pistol, and additional live cartridges from the arrested accused.
Who is Mohammed Joshan and what did he reveal?
Mohammed Joshan is one of the six arrested accused. He admitted during interrogation that he worked for both the Prince Khan gang and the KSS Kuber gang, collecting levy money from coal traders in the area.
What is the current status of the investigation?
Based on disclosures made by the arrested accused, Jharkhand police are conducting raids at multiple locations to apprehend other gang operatives who are still at large.
