A disturbing wave of high-stakes extortion attempts by competing criminal syndicates has intensified in Ludhiana, with a local furniture merchant becoming the latest victim of a massive Rs 2 crore ransom demand. This alarming incident underscores the growing menace of international digital threats that continue to plague the industrial city's entrepreneurial landscape.
The Latest Target and Immediate Police Response
Jagjeet Singh, a resident of Guru Nanak Colony and proprietor of a furniture business, reported to authorities that he received a threatening WhatsApp call on January 17 from an international number. The caller identified himself as the notorious gangster Balwinder Singh, widely known as "Doni Bal," and delivered a chilling ultimatum: pay Rs 2 crore or face execution.
Fearing for his safety, the victim promptly filed a complaint at the Sadar police station before temporarily relocating from the city. Inspector Jagdev Singh Dhaliwal, the station house officer at Sadar police station, confirmed that an official first-information report (FIR) has been registered under Section 308 (4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) specifically addressing the extortion attempt.
"The target is a furniture businessman who reported the threat immediately," Inspector Dhaliwal stated. "While he is currently out of town, we will gather further specifics upon his return. The probe is active and ongoing."
Gang Rivalries and Intelligence Investigations
Senior police officials have connected the primary suspect, Doni Bal, to the Bambiha gang—a significant rival to the syndicate controlled by Lawrence Bishnoi and the Canada-based Goldy Brar. Investigators have clarified that although Brar and Bishnoi have recently severed their alliance, there is no current evidence suggesting any collaboration between Doni Bal and the Brar faction.
Intelligence officers are now concentrating on a "local leak" hypothesis to explain how the gang identified this particular businessman. A senior officer elaborated on this theory, noting: "The target is not a high-profile public figure. This suggests a local informant passed his personal details and financial standing to the gang, enabling this targeted extortion attempt."
A Pattern of Escalating Threats Against Businesses
This recent case is part of a concerning series of similar incidents where hardened militants have specifically targeted entrepreneurs based in Ludhiana. Earlier, on January 3, Kamalpreet Singh, who operates a garment shop near MBD Mall, received a WhatsApp call from Hari Boxer, an associate of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.
After initially ignoring the call, the victim received follow-up voice notes demanding a staggering Rs 10 crore ransom. The suspects explicitly threatened to open fire at his business premises if their demands were not met, illustrating the brazen and violent nature of these extortion campaigns.
Police Countermeasures and Surveillance Intensification
In response to this escalating threat pattern, Ludhiana police have significantly enhanced their monitoring of international Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls. Law enforcement agencies are diligently working to map and dismantle the network of local informants who are believed to be facilitating these cross-border criminal activities.
The police strategy involves not only investigating individual cases but also understanding the broader operational dynamics between rival gangs that are exploiting digital communication tools to terrorize the local business community. This multi-pronged approach aims to provide both immediate security and long-term deterrence against such organized extortion rackets.
