A late-night shooting turned a hotel in Ranchi into a crime scene after armed men allegedly connected to gangster Prince Khan entered the premises and opened fire when an extortion demand of ₹1 crore was not fulfilled. The attack resulted in the death of a hotel waiter.
The incident occurred late on Saturday night at Hotel Teetos on Airport Road in Jharkhand’s capital. Police and eyewitnesses said two assailants arrived on a motorcycle and suddenly began firing multiple rounds inside the property.
The attackers reportedly entered the hotel compound and discharged three to four rounds within seconds. The gunfire caused panic among employees and customers present inside the restaurant.
A waiter identified as Manish Gop sustained critical injuries in the shooting and later died while undergoing treatment at a hospital.
Witnesses said the gunmen fled immediately after the firing, escaping on the same motorcycles they arrived on.
CCTV footage from the vicinity shows two individuals approaching the hotel on a motorcycle. One suspect is seen getting off, walking into the premises, firing shots, and then escaping. The audio captures loud gunfire as people rush to take cover.
Investigators believe the attack is connected to an earlier extortion threat. Police sources said hotel operator Rajkumar Gop had received a call on December 25 demanding ₹1 crore as protection money, allegedly from gangster Prince Khan.
After the complaint, authorities provided Rajkumar with personal security for about a month. The protection was later withdrawn, and the shooting occurred soon afterward.
A senior Ranchi police officer said preliminary findings indicate possible involvement of Prince Khan’s criminal network. No arrests have been made so far, and the probe is continuing on multiple fronts.
City SP Paras Rana stated that extortion, ransom demands, and a land dispute appear to be the primary motives behind the attack.
Police said Rajkumar Gop had recently resolved a land dispute, and investigators suspect information about the settlement may have reached the gangster’s associates, prompting the extortion demand.
Prince Khan is wanted in several criminal cases, and a Red Corner Notice has been issued against him.
Law enforcement sources believe he is hiding in Dubai or nearby regions, from where he allegedly continues to coordinate criminal activities.
Authorities added that he had previously demanded extortion money from traders in Ranchi’s Upper Bazaar and from business owners in neighbouring Hazaribagh.
Police teams are examining CCTV evidence and collecting additional proof as part of the ongoing investigation into the shooting that disrupted a routine evening and highlighted the reach of organised crime networks.
