NEW DELHI: Four men wanted in several criminal cases in Bihar were shot dead in an encounter with Delhi Police’s Crime Branch and Bihar Police early on Wednesday, officials said. The exchange of fire took place around 2:20am on Bahadur Shah Marg in Delhi’s Rohini area, after a police team tried to intercept the suspects following a tip-off about their movements. Police said the suspects — identified as Ranjan Pathak (25), Bimlesh Mahto (25), Manish Pathak (33) and Aman Thakur (21) — opened fire when asked to stop, prompting retaliatory action. They were taken to Dr BSA Hospital, where they were declared dead. At least two to three policemen were also injured in the encounter, according to sources. Officials said the operation was led by DCP Sanjeev Yadav. The men were wanted in connection with multiple serious offences in Bihar, including murder and criminal conspiracy, and were allegedly moving between Delhi and Nepal to evade arrest. Police records show that Ranjan Pathak and Bimlesh Mahto faced several cases under the Arms Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), while Aman Thakur was accused of killing a man named Guddu Thakur. The number of cases involving Manish Pathak is being verified. Delhi Police and Bihar Police have been coordinating efforts to track the gang’s activities in the capital. Investigators are now looking into possible links between the group and other organised criminal networks.