Nawada, June 12: Four criminals were killed in a gang-war at Saswahna village in Bihar's Sheikhpura district today, police said. All the slain criminals belonged to the Ashok Mahto gang and their bullet riddled bodies were recovered from a field in Belhar village of Nawada district this morning, police said.

The assailants had thrown the bodies in Belhar, after killing the four persons in Sheikhpura, police added.

Those killed included Ranjit Singh, a sharp shooter and brother of a history-sheeter Akhshat Singh, who was killed in an encounter last year while trying to flee from Nawada district jail.
The four bodies have been sent to Sadar hospital here for autopsy.

The killings were seen as a fallout of war of supremacy between gangsters Ashok Mahto and Akhilesh Singh, husband of Warsaliganj Independent MLA Aruna Devi, police said.
The two gangs have been involved in fierce clashes in Nawada and adjoining districts of Sheikhpura, Munger and Lakhisarai over the issue of establishing control over sand mining and other contracts, police added.

Bureau Report