Ludhiana: From bakery owners to bullion dealers, the business elite of this industrial hub are forced to hire private security as police fail to stop a wave of high-profile extortion calls from untraceable overseas numbers and their followup daylight shootings.In recent days, at least four prominent businessmen have been targeted by callers claiming to be notorious gangsters, including Goldy Brar and Gopi Lahoria. The demands are staggering: a local jeweller was told to pay 5 crore, while bakery owners have been hit with demands ranging from 20 lakh to several crore. With investigations hitting a dead end at the border, the cops advise the targets to simply “be cautious”.Despite the filing of first-information reports (FIRs), victims express frustration that the legal process offers little physical protection. Senior police officials admit that most calls originate from foreign countries using virtual numbers, making them nearly impossible to track via standard digital forensics. Gangsters abroad are also reportedly recruiting local Punjab youth to carry out “message” shootings or collect cash, leaving the masterminds out of reach.Police authorities have warned the public that they cannot give 24-hour security to every individual who receives a threat, even if that is creating a climate of “pay or pray”. The lack of a state-sponsored safety net has created a two-tier security system. Those who can afford it are turning to private bodyguards to protect their families. “The police only ask us to be cautious,” said one city-based businessman who hired private security after a threat last month. “But when you are told your family will be shot, ‘caution’ isn’t enough.”The demand have totalled almost ₹18 crore in just a two-week span. In the most recent case, a wanted member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, Harry Boxer, allegedly threatened to shoot Punjabi singer Parmish Verma and his associate unless they paid ₹10 crore. This follows a similar ₹5 crore threat against a local BJP worker and realtor by gangster Goldy Brar, who reportedly hounded the victim with voice notes and messages after his calls went unanswered.The pattern of intimidation has extended beyond the political and entertainment spheres to include educators and private citizens. Recently, the owner of a prominent private school was targeted for ₹2 crore by a caller claiming to be the infamous gangster Doni Bal, while another resident was threatened with his family’s lives by an unidentified caller also claiming ties to the Bishnoi group.In each instance, local police have registered formal complaints under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for extortion and criminal intimidation. However, with many of these threats originating from figures operating within global crime syndicates, the city’s residents remain on edge as authorities work to trace the callers and ensure public safety. MSID:: 129702163 413 |
