dhanbad, Aug. 8 -- The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) shot dead Ashish Ranjan alias Chhotu Singh, a dreaded gangster from Dhanbad with a long history of heinous crimes, including murder, extortion, and contract killings across Jharkhand, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh, in Prayagraj in the early hours of Thursday, police said. "The 28-year-old gangster, who carried a reward of Rs.4 lakh on his arrest, was killed near Shivrajpur crossing in the trans-Yamuna region under Shankargarh police station area. The joint operation by the STF and local police took place around 1.22 am based on specific intelligence inputs about Ranjan's movements," an official close to the developments said. Shailesh Pratap Singh, the deputy superintendent of police (DSP) of STF, said the team laid a trap after receiving information that Ranjan and an associate were on their way to execute a major crime in Prayagraj. When intercepted, the duo-riding a motorcycle-opened fire using an AK-47 and a 9mm pistol. "In the retaliatory firing, Ranjan sustained critical injuries and was rushed to the Shankargarh Community Health Centre, where he died during treatment," the DSP said....