Delhi Police Uncovers Foreign Gangs' 'Ghost' Name Strategy to Recruit Unemployed Youths as Shooters
The Delhi Police has made a startling discovery in their investigation of extortion cases linked to gangsters based abroad. According to officials, different members of the same criminal gang operating from foreign countries are running operations under a single alias, such as "Sachin" or "Sumit," to deliberately confuse investigators and lead probes to dead ends.
Encrypted Apps and Fake Identities: The New Modus Operandi
In this sophisticated scheme, a phone call on encrypted messaging apps like Zangi or Signal from a person identifying himself as "Sachin" or "Sumit" instructs newly inducted shooters to open fire outside the residence of a businessman. Prior to the attack, the shooters are directed to collect firearms from a specific location and then deposit them elsewhere after completing the act.
The police emphasize that extortion rackets have now become highly technical, with meticulously planned efforts. Ground-level operatives or shooters receive payments but never actually know who they are communicating with, as the individuals behind the aliases are different members of the same gang.
First-Time Offenders and Elusive Leaders
Delhi Police statistics reveal that teams from the Special Cell, Crime Branch, and local police managed to solve approximately 65 percent of extortion cases registered in 2025. However, the situation remains challenging because authorities have primarily apprehended only the ground-level operatives who carried out the shootings.
The main planners behind these attacks are rarely identified, as gangs operate by invoking the names of their leaders to mask their true identities. Most shooters are first-time offenders, while the major players easily evade arrest by hiding behind common aliases.
"This practice prevents them from being identified. Even if the shooters are caught, they provide the name of the person they believe assigned them the task, but such a person does not actually exist," explained a senior police officer.
Recent Incidents Highlight the Pattern
A similar pattern was observed in two recent firing incidents in Paschim Vihar and West Vinod Nagar on January 12. Two individuals involved, including a minor, stated they were acting on behalf of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and claimed to be in contact with someone named Anil Pandit.
However, the social media post claiming responsibility for the shooting was made from an account named 'Randeep Malik,' created using the ID of one Sumit. The two were hired through social media and connected with gang members via the Signal app.
In another case, the murder of Indepreet Singh alias Parry in Chandigarh last month saw shooters claiming they acted on instructions from a person named Sachin. Police believe no such individual exists within the gang, further illustrating the use of ghost names.
Social Media: An Easy Platform to Recruit Unemployed Youths
"In the past few months, most shooters arrested from the Lawrence Bishnoi, Goldy Brar, or Himanshu Bhau gangs were unemployed individuals inspired by these gangs through social media," an officer noted.
Gang members operating from abroad have created multiple social media profiles using their leaders' names. They monitor new followers on these accounts and contact them to gauge interest in joining the gang. Those who show interest are asked to move conversations to encrypted platforms like Zangi or Signal.
After background verification, recruits may undergo small firing tests if required before being assigned shooting tasks. This method has allowed the Lawrence Bishnoi gang to expand its network to around 700 associates across the country, according to officials.
Post-Shooting Tactics: Social Media Posts and Name-Dropping
The person assigning tasks is identified as "Sachin" or "Prince," names used to mask real identities. "Sachin or Prince then instructs the new recruit to collect the weapon from a location and drop it at another place soon after the shooting. Payments are also frequently made to them," an officer said.
Soon after a shooting outside a businessman's residence or office, gangsters post messages claiming responsibility for the attack. They mention the names of senior gang members operating from different regions to create fear among businessmen and authorities.
Officers believe gangsters exploit the psychology of businessmen by targeting one individual to instill fear in others—a key tactic often used by criminals. This strategy, combined with ghost names and encrypted communication, makes investigations increasingly complex for law enforcement agencies.
