Ludhiana: Police have dismantled a primary recruitment arm of the notorious Goldy Brar extortion syndicate following the arrest of a 22-year-old operative responsible for radicalising and hiring local youth to carry out drive-by shootings.Arrested after months on the run, Vikramjit Singh of Noorwala Road has been identified as a pivotal middleman who bridged the gap between high-level gangsters and street-level enforcers. Investigations reveal that boys were his specific recruitment targets and he used them to fire gunshots at the homes of prominent traders and businessmen across Punjab to intimidate them into paying protection money.The syndicate, which was first disrupted in Jan during a joint operation with counter-intelligence units, has seen more than 10 arrests to date. “Vikramjit, wanted in this case, has been arrested,” said Harpal Singh, deputy commissioner of police (investigation). “The cops are now working to track the remaining two accused.”Radicalised in jailThe suspect’s path to the upper echelons of organised crime reportedly began within the walls of Ludhiana Central Jail. Vikramjit Singh, who was booked previously for a local firing incident in March 2024, made contact with Rajasthan-based gangster Virendra Charan while incarcerated. Through this connection, Vikramjit Singh was introduced to Canada-based criminal mastermind Goldy Brar. Police officials state that Charan shifted allegiances recently from gangster Rohit Godara to Brar, focusing efforts on expanding extortion networks through local “talent scouts” like Vikramjit Singh and his associate, Naresh Sethi.Arms seizedThe crackdown has led to the recovery of 12 illegal, sophisticated firearms, highlighting the gang’s high-level logistics. The haul included two 9mm Glock pistols, one Zigana pistol, and nine additional high-caliber handguns. Police intelligence suggests the weapons were funneled into the city through a dual supply chain: some provided by Charan and others arranged by Mukul Mattu, a career criminal serving time in Ludhiana’s Central Jail. Mattu was brought out on a production warrant recently to face new charges related to the supply of these arms.While Vikramjit Singh’s arrest marks a significant victory for local law enforcement, the hunt continues for two other suspects, Rajan Sidhu and Sandeep, who remain at large. The syndicate’s reach was extensive, with previous arrests including inmates from Ferozepur and Ludhiana jails, proving the group’s ability to coordinate sophisticated criminal operations from behind bars.
