Mexican authorities have arrested the alleged mastermind behind the assassination of Carlos Manzo, the popular crime-fighting mayor of Uruapan, in a major breakthrough in one of the country's most high-profile political killings.

The suspect, identified as Ramon Angel "N," also known by the alias "R1," was arrested during a joint security operation in Atotonilco el Alto, located in the western state of Jalisco, officials confirmed on Thursday.

According to Mexico's Security Minister Omar Garcia Harfuch, the accused is believed to have led an armed criminal group linked to the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), one of the country's most influential organised crime syndicates.

Mayor Was Killed During Public Celebration

Carlos Manzo was shot dead in November 2025 while attending the traditional Day of the Dead celebrations with members of his family on a public street in Uruapan.

The killing triggered widespread outrage across Mexico and drew international attention, as Manzo had earned a reputation for personally participating in anti-crime operations and publicly confronting organised criminal groups.

Often seen wearing his trademark cowboy hat, the mayor gained significant popularity through videos showing him accompanying police during raids and security operations, leading many supporters to describe him as a modern-day "Robin Hood."

Authorities Link Suspect to CJNG

Security Minister Harfuch said intelligence agencies had tracked the suspect for several months before carrying out the operation.

He described the criminal network allegedly headed by Ramon Angel "N" as one of the most violent factions associated with the CJNG, operating across several municipalities in the neighbouring states of Michoacán and Jalisco.

According to the minister, the group has been involved in multiple criminal activities, including:

• Drug trafficking

• Extortion

• Contract killings

• Organised violence targeting businesses and local communities

Officials said the arrest followed months of coordinated intelligence gathering involving federal investigators and special units of the Mexican Army.

31st Arrest in the Investigation

Authorities stated that the latest arrest marks the 31st detention made in connection with the investigation into Manzo's assassination.

The government believes the operation has significantly weakened the criminal network allegedly responsible for orchestrating the attack.

Following the arrest, Mexican security forces increased their presence across the region, with soldiers and armoured vehicles deployed in and around Atotonilco el Alto.

Mayor's Widow Welcomes Breakthrough

Grecia Quiroz, the widow of Carlos Manzo and the current mayor of Uruapan, welcomed the development but said the investigation should continue.

In a statement shared on social media, she said the arrest represents an important step toward justice while stressing that the full conspiracy behind her husband's killing must still be uncovered.

She expressed confidence that investigators would continue pursuing everyone involved in planning and executing the assassination.

Violence Continues to Challenge Mexico

Uruapan lies in Michoacán, a state that has long witnessed violent confrontations involving organised criminal groups competing for control over strategic trafficking routes and extortion networks.

During his tenure, Carlos Manzo frequently criticised both the federal government led by President Claudia Sheinbaum and the Michoacán state administration, accusing them of failing to contain escalating violence.

Mexico has faced persistent security challenges since the country's war against drug cartels intensified in 2006. According to official figures, more than 130,000 people have been reported missing or disappeared during this period, with many cases linked to organised crime or security operations.

The arrest of the alleged mastermind is being viewed as one of the most significant developments in the investigation, although authorities say efforts to dismantle the wider criminal network remain ongoing.

Four suspected members of the Deepak Nandal gang were killed and another was critically injured in a late-night encounter with Gurugram Police after an alleged extortion attempt at the residence of a property dealer in the city's Sushant Lok area. Three police personnel, including an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI), also sustained bullet injuries during the exchange of fire.

According to police, the gunfight took place around 11:30 pm on Thursday in Sushant Lok Phase-2, where the accused allegedly entered the house of property dealer Vishal Berry, held him hostage and demanded several crores of rupees as extortion money.

Hostage Situation Triggered Police Action

Police said Vishal Berry, whose father was the founder of SGT University, allegedly received extortion threats from the Deepak Nandal gang. When he reportedly refused to pay the demanded amount, five armed men entered his residence and opened fire.

Family members alerted the police, following which Crime Branch teams rushed to the spot. According to ACP Sadar Dharamveer Singh, the accused allegedly fired at the police team when asked to surrender, leading to a retaliatory exchange of fire.

More than 20 rounds were reportedly fired during the encounter.

Four Accused Killed, One Critical

Five suspected gang members sustained bullet injuries during the gunfight. Doctors later declared four of them dead, while the fifth accused remains in critical condition at a hospital.

Police have yet to officially establish the identities of all the deceased. However, investigators said one of the deceased was from Fatehabad, while the injured accused has been identified as Shivam, a resident of Kota Bisar in Gurugram.

Authorities have sealed the encounter site and launched a detailed investigation.

Three Policemen Injured

The exchange of fire also left three police personnel injured.

Those hurt include:

• ASI Sunil of Crime Branch Sector-40

• Constable Manjeet

• Constable Shamsher

All three were admitted to Medanta Hospital, where they are undergoing treatment. Police said their condition is being monitored.

Scorpio SUV, Weapons Seized

Investigators recovered multiple firearms from the accused and seized the black Scorpio SUV allegedly used during the attack. The vehicle sustained damage during the exchange of fire, with its windshield shattered by bullets.

Forensic teams are examining the vehicle, recovered weapons and other evidence collected from the scene.

Deepak Nandal Gang Under Scanner

Police suspect all five accused were associated with the Deepak Nandal gang, which investigators believe operates through handlers based abroad.

According to ACP Dharamveer Singh, Vishal Berry had allegedly been receiving extortion threats from the gang before Thursday night's attack.

Investigators are now gathering information about Deepak Nandal's network, his associates and possible links to other organised crime cases.

Property Dealer Being Questioned

Police are also questioning Vishal Berry to establish the sequence of events leading to the attack, including when the alleged extortion demands were first made and the amount sought by the gang.

Officials said the investigation is focusing on the criminal backgrounds of the accused, the origin of the weapons recovered and whether additional members of the gang were involved in planning the incident.

US federal prosecutors have announced criminal charges against alleged gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and his close associate Satinderjeet Singh, alias Goldy Brar, accusing them of orchestrating the 2023 killing of Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. The charges form part of a wider crackdown on transnational organised crime networks, with authorities unsealing three indictments against 37 defendants and announcing the arrest of 24 suspects across the United States, Canada and Europe.

According to prosecutors, the investigation targeted three India-based organised crime groups allegedly involved in contract killings, extortion, drug trafficking and illegal arms operations operating across multiple countries.

Nijjar Murder Included in Charges

The indictments allege that Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldy Brar directed the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was shot dead outside the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, in June 2023.

Brar remains a fugitive, while Bishnoi has been lodged in an Indian jail since 2015 in connection with multiple criminal cases. US prosecutors have accused both men of coordinating criminal activities through associates operating across international borders.

The killing of Nijjar, a prominent supporter of the Khalistan movement, had sparked a prolonged diplomatic dispute between India and Canada after Ottawa alleged the involvement of Indian agents—claims New Delhi has consistently rejected.

Years-Long International Investigation

Federal prosecutors in Los Angeles said the indictments followed a multi-year investigation into transnational criminal syndicates with alleged links to India.

The probe involved several law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and US Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

First Assistant US Attorney Bill Essayli said authorities would continue targeting international criminal organisations involved in violence, narcotics trafficking and organised extortion.

Extortion Case in California

Apart from the Nijjar murder allegations, prosecutors have accused members of the Bishnoi network of targeting religious and political figures while running extortion operations in North America.

According to court documents, Bishnoi, Brar and other associates allegedly demanded USD 5 million from a victim in California during December and January through threats and intimidation.

The indictments also allege that members of the network were involved in cross-border criminal enterprises extending beyond India and Canada.

Large Drug and Weapons Seizure

During the investigation, authorities recovered significant quantities of narcotics, cash and weapons believed to be linked to the criminal organisations.

Investigators seized approximately 1,000 kilograms of cocaine, 1 kilogram of heroin, around USD 40,000 in cash, and 12 firearms during coordinated enforcement operations.

Officials described the seizures as part of broader efforts to dismantle international trafficking networks allegedly connected to organised crime groups operating across multiple jurisdictions.

Background of the Diplomatic Dispute

Hardeep Singh Nijjar, 45, was shot dead by two masked gunmen in the parking area of a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, in June 2023.

In 2024, Canadian authorities arrested and charged four Indian nationals in connection with the killing. The case significantly strained diplomatic relations between India and Canada, leading to reciprocal diplomatic measures by both governments.

The latest US indictments add a new international legal dimension to the investigation, although the criminal proceedings remain separate from the ongoing diplomatic discussions between New Delhi and Ottawa.

Durg–Bhilai police say their probe into an organised network that stole scrap from Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP) has uncovered property and jewellery bought with proceeds from the thefts, and the case has widened after key arrests. Three suspects whose seven-day police remand ended on Monday were produced in court and sent to judicial custody, officials said.

The operation dates to a raid on May 26, when officers acting on a tip-off searched AK Traders in Hathkhoj area of Bhilai and found large consignments of suspicious scrap loaded in trucks and hiwas — heavy iron plates, beam cuttings and other industrial scrap that matched materials missing from BSP, police said. Subsequent searches led to the seizure of about 250 tonnes of scrap; police estimate its market value at roughly Rs 90 lakh and put the total assets seized, including vehicles and machinery, at about Rs 3.22 crore.

Interrogation of the main accused, identified as Sanjay Singh, reportedly revealed that the illicit proceeds were invested in land, houses and gold and silver jewellery. A locker belonging to the alleged mastermind was searched and jewellery worth about Rs 50 lakh and documents linked to property worth nearly Rs 3 crore were recovered, police said.

Investigators told reporters they reconstructed the scene by taking suspects to the route from Khursipar Gate to SMS‑3, where scrap had been consolidated and loaded for transport. During the exercise officers also seized vehicles fitted with fake number plates, which were allegedly used to move the stolen material to the market, the statement said.

The case has already produced a growing list of arrests. Police had previously arrested nine suspects and sent them to jail; Sanjay Singh was arrested later from Deoria in Uttar Pradesh after a targeted search and was handed a seven‑day remand on June 16. Further questioning led to the arrests of Amit Sharma (aka Kailash Sharma) and Aakash Kumar Singh, police said. In all, authorities say 12 accused have now been detained in connection with the ring.

Durg district police said they are now mapping the accused’s investments — bank accounts, land records and properties — and preparing seizure (attachment) orders where appropriate. “We are scrutinising financial trails to recover proceeds of crime and will take legal steps to attach illicitly acquired assets,” an officer said.

Why it matters: the operation exposed how organised theft at an industrial plant can be converted quickly into legitimate‑looking assets, widening the harm beyond the immediate loss of material. Large-scale scrap theft from manufacturing hubs can disrupt supply chains, damage plant operations and create a market for crime proceeds that corrupts local trade.

What police will do next: officers said forensic accounting of seized assets and ongoing interrogation aim to trace the full network, identify buyers of stolen scrap and determine whether any plant insiders were complicit. The probe will determine whether further property attachments and criminal charges — including for organised theft, fraud and use of forged documents — are warranted.

Bhind Ganja Smuggling Ring Runs Like a Company; B-Team Takes Over After A-Team Bust

Police in Bhind have uncovered the second layer of a well-organised inter-state ganja smuggling network operating on a corporate-style model with clearly defined roles, profit-sharing, and even a dedicated fund for legal aid. In a joint operation by Barohi and Dehat police stations, two members of the so-called B-Team were arrested late on Tuesday with 138 kg of ganja valued at around ₹28 lakh.

The arrests have once again highlighted how the gang quickly adapted after its first team was dismantled in December last year. Officials say the network treated smuggling like a business enterprise, complete with managers, financiers, storekeepers, and suppliers.

A-Team Dismantled in December Raid

The story began in December when Barohi police, led by Station House Officer Atul Bhadauria, intercepted a suspicious Hyundai car near Madanpura Dam. The driver tried to flee through a kutcha road but was chased and caught. A search yielded 22.2 kg of ganja.

Those arrested included Rajendra Baghel of BTI Road, Bhind, Pankaj Shukla of Barohi, and Rajkumar Sharma from Surpura. Pankaj Shukla was believed to be running the operation using a structured “company model”. Another key member, Majnu alias Shivam Sharma from Aryanagar, managed to escape initially but was later arrested after a few months.

B-Team Activated to Keep Business Running

With the main operatives behind bars, Majnu, who had been on the run, reportedly activated the backup B-Team to ensure the trade did not stop. Sources familiar with the investigation said he brought in new people and assigned specific responsibilities to minimise risk and maintain continuity.

Anup Sharma alias Anna was roped in as the financier. According to preliminary questioning, the financier was to get nearly 50 percent of the profits and was also responsible for arranging bail if any member was caught. A separate budget was maintained from each consignment for legal expenses, including efforts to secure bail for those already in jail.

Rishabh Chauhan was tasked with arranging vehicles, while others handled storage and new supplier contacts. The gang shifted to greater caution this time, using luxury cars in a convoy system and code words such as “maal” or “jadi-buti” during communication.

New Hideout and Sophisticated Tactics

Investigators revealed that the B-Team set up a fresh storage point in Kumhroua area. Abhishek Tiwari of Aryanagar was given charge of the “godown”. He allegedly rented a relative’s house for ₹10,000 per month and, with help from Anshul Bouhre, used it to store the contraband.

The gang sourced ganja from Odisha, where it was procured at around ₹5,000 per kg. It was then sold to agents in Bhind and nearby areas at up to ₹20,000 per kg, reaching ₹25,000 in retail. Police said suppliers from Odisha sometimes ensured safe delivery up to the Chhattisgarh border.

To avoid detection on the road, the gang used a “follow car” system. One vehicle with 3-4 members would travel 2-3 km ahead to scout for police presence and relay information to the carrier vehicle behind it.

Latest Seizure and Ongoing Hunt

In the latest action, police arrested Abhishek Tiwari and Anshul Bouhre. The 138 kg ganja recovered is believed to be part of a larger 200 kg consignment, of which around 40 kg had already been sold. Interrogation has provided fresh leads on the wider network.

Barohi SHO Atul Bhadauria confirmed that the arrested duo belongs to the B-Team of the same gang busted earlier. “Their questioning has opened several links of the network. We have identified four members of the B-Team so far,” he said.

Those still absconding include financier Anup Sharma alias Anna, Mangu, and Rishabh Chauhan. Police teams are actively searching for them.

Impact on Local Drug Trade

This structured operation allowed the gang to run the illegal trade with minimal disruption even after major arrests. By dividing roles and creating contingency plans, including financial provisions for legal battles, the network tried to function like any legitimate business with risk management.

Local authorities noted that such organised models make enforcement challenging as new layers quickly replace arrested members. The seizures, however, have dealt a significant blow to the supply chain in the region.

Police said further investigation is underway to trace the money trail, more hideouts, and upstream suppliers in Odisha. Cases under the NDPS Act have been registered, and efforts are on to dismantle the remaining links of both A and B teams.

The development comes at a time when authorities in Madhya Pradesh and neighbouring states continue to step up vigil against the inflow of ganja from eastern regions.