In the annals of Indian crime, few cases are as chilling, bizarre, and meticulously planned as the one dubbed “Operation Sindoor” by the Uttar Pradesh Police. It wasn’t a typical story of robbery or murder; it was a sinister saga of betrayal, superstition, and a ruthless pursuit of wealth that targeted the most vulnerable. At its heart was a shocking modus operandi: the serial killing of widows for their precious sindoor (vermilion) and mangalsutra, believed to be imbued with mystical power when taken from a living widow.
But over a decade since the gruesome details shook the nation, a pressing question remains: Where are the masterminds and perpetrators of this macabre operation now? The answer is a complex tale of delayed justice, life sentences, and the haunting echoes of a crime that laid bare a dark underbelly of superstition.
A Recap of the Macabre Operation
Before delving into their current whereabouts, it’s crucial to understand the sheer scale and strangeness of the crime.
Between 2012 and 2014, a gang operating primarily in the Bareilly, Pilibhit, and Shahjahanpur districts of UP, orchestrated the murders of over a dozen widows. Their target was not cash or jewellery in general, but two very specific items: the sindoor in the hair parting and the mangalsutra around their necks.
The gang’s leader, Ravindra Kumar, alias Ravi Baba, was a self-styled godman and the sinister brain behind the operation. He had convinced his followers that a powerful tantric ritual involving these specific items from a living widow—a suhagan whose husband had predeceased her—would lead to immense wealth and prosperity. The widows were strangled, their sindoor and mangalsutra carefully collected, and the items were then used in these occult ceremonies with the belief that they would unlock hidden treasure.
The operation unraveled in 2014 with the arrest of several gang members, leading the police to Ravi Baba and the horrifying truth.
The Legal Reckoning: Life Imprisonment
After a lengthy trial that exposed the chilling details, the Special Judge (SC/ST Act) court in Bareilly delivered its verdict. In February 2020, the key accused were convicted.
- Ravindra Kumar (Ravi Baba), the mastermind, was found guilty.
- Vikky, his close aide and key executor of the murders, was found guilty.
- Several other associates, including Rajesh, Raju, and Sonu, were also convicted for their roles in the killings, providing logistics, and identifying targets.
The punishment was severe and unequivocal: Life Imprisonment.
The court sentenced them to rigorous imprisonment for life, ensuring they would remain behind bars for the remainder of their natural lives. Additionally, they were fined under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 302 (murder), 394 (robbery), and the stringent Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, as many of the victims belonged to marginalized communities.
Their Current Whereabouts: A Life Behind Bars
So, where are they now? The individuals convicted in the Operation Sindoor case are almost certainly incarcerated in a high-security prison in Uttar Pradesh.
1. Life in a UP Prison:
Life imprisonment in India means incarceration until the end of the convict’s natural life, though there are provisions for remission and premature release after serving a minimum of 14 years, depending on the state’s policy and the gravity of the crime. Given the heinous, multi-victim, and “rarest of rare” nature of these crimes, it is highly unlikely that any of the main conspirators will be granted remission or parole easily. Their life behind bars is one of strict routine, isolation from society, and constant supervision.
2. Which Prison?
While specific prison details are not publicly disclosed for security and privacy reasons, high-profile convicts serving life sentences for such gruesome crimes are typically held in central prisons known for heightened security. Potential locations could include:
- Bareilly Jail: As the district where the trial was held, it’s a likely initial place of incarceration.
- Lucknow District Jail or Central Jail: Major state prisons often house high-profile inmates.
- Other Central Jails in UP: Like Naini Central Jail in Prayagraj, which has a designated high-security block.
Their existence is now reduced to a number, a daily schedule, and the confines of a prison cell—a stark contrast to the mystical, power-driven fantasies that led them to their crimes.
The Psychological Echoes and Unanswered Questions
While their physical location is a prison cell, the psychological state of these individuals remains a subject of macabre curiosity. What does a man like Ravi Baba, who believed so fervently in his own tantric powers, think now that his rituals only led him to a concrete cell?
- Remorse or Delusion? Has the reality of a life sentence shattered his superstitious beliefs, or does he still cling to them in delusion? There have been no public statements or interviews, leaving their mindset a matter of speculation.
- The Followers: What about those like Vikky, who carried out the murders? Were they true believers, or were they simply loyal henchmen motivated by a promise of shared wealth? The walls of the prison hold these secrets tightly.
The Legacy of Operation Sindoor
The case left an indelible mark on the region’s socio-legal landscape.
- A Precedent for Occult Crimes: It forced the Indian legal system to directly confront and severely punish crimes driven by superstition and black magic, setting a strong precedent.
- Highlighting the Vulnerability of Widows: The operation tragically underscored the precarious position of widows, particularly in rural India, who can be targeted precisely because of their isolated and often economically weak status.
- A Warning Against Fake Godmen: It served as a stark reminder of the dangerous influence self-styled babas can wield over impressionable and desperate individuals.
Conclusion: Contained, But Not Erased
The perpetrators of Operation Sindoor are where they belong: in prison, serving life sentences for their unspeakable crimes. They have been removed from society, their brutal operation彻底关闭 (chèdǐ guānbì) -彻底关闭 (completely shut down).
Yet, the story doesn’t truly end there. Their current existence is a form of justice, but it doesn’t erase the pain inflicted on the victims’ families or the chilling absurdity of the crimes. They remain behind bars as grim reminders—not just of their own individual evil, but of the dark shadows of superstition that can still thrive in the modern world. Their physical location is known, but the haunting question of how ordinary men were driven to such extraordinary cruelty remains locked away with them.