Mumbai, June 23: In a significant victory against interstate drug trafficking, the Rajasthan Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) has apprehended a fugitive smuggler with a reward of ₹25,000 on his head. This individual had evaded law enforcement for the past seven years while living under a false identity in Kerala.
The accused, Ranjit Dayma, also known as Ranjit Banjara, hails from Manasa in Madhya Pradesh‘s Neemuch district. He was arrested under a special operation named “Operation Yamalkamali.” This operation was initiated based on information obtained from another drug trafficker, Ramesh Banjara, who had previously been arrested by the ANTF during “Operation Madavikdhat.”
According to Inspector General Vikas Kumar of the ANTF, Ranjit was a close associate and relative of Ramesh Banjara, playing a crucial role in the drug supply chain. To apprehend him, ANTF officers traveled approximately 2,500 kilometers from Rajasthan to Kerala, where Ranjit had been hiding in remote areas for several years.
Investigators revealed that Ranjit had learned Kannada, Telugu, and Malayalam, allowing him to integrate seamlessly into local communities in Kerala. In the Shoranur area, he spoke Malayalam so fluently that locals believed he was a native, which contributed to his ability to evade capture despite being wanted in Rajasthan.
Police investigations indicated that while Ramesh Banjara allegedly dealt in drugs, Ranjit managed the transportation and distribution from safe locations. For his services, he reportedly earned a commission of about ₹500 per kilogram. His earnings from shipments of 100 to 500 kilograms of poppy husk (doda-chura) were estimated to range from ₹50,000 to ₹200,000.
During his time on the run, Ranjit operated a blanket shop in Vadakkanchery, Kerala. Police reported that he traveled approximately 150 kilometers daily by motorcycle to sell blankets, using this business to conceal his identity.
Investigators suspect that before returning to Kerala, Ranjit frequently traveled to Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh to maintain contact with the smuggling network. Upon reaching Shoranur, ANTF officers disguised themselves as local artisans to conduct surveillance. They eventually discovered that Ranjit had gone to the hilly area of Neliampathi to sell blankets. Authorities then posed as potential buyers, luring him to their vehicle under the pretext of a large purchase before taking him into custody.
During initial questioning, Ranjit allegedly confessed to supplying poppy husk across several states, including Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Reports indicate that he claimed ignorance of the number of cases filed against him and was unaware of which state’s police had arrested him.
The accused has been brought back to Rajasthan, where further inquiries are being conducted to gather more information about the interstate drug trafficking network.
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