A garment businessman in the industrial city of Ludhiana has been targeted in a chilling extortion racket, with the perpetrators claiming allegiance to the notorious gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. The incident has sent shockwaves through the local trading community and prompted a swift police response.
The Threatening Call and Demand
The victim, Manpreet Singh, who operates a garment shop near a mall in Ludhiana and is a resident of Sri Muktsar Sahib, reported the crime to the authorities. According to the complaint, the threat arrived on January 3 via a WhatsApp call to his son, Kamalpreet Singh, who helps run the family business.
The call originated from an international number. The person on the other end identified himself as "Hari Boxer" and stated he was from the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. After Kamalpreet Singh disconnected the initial call and ignored subsequent ones, the accused escalated the intimidation.
WhatsApp voice messages followed, containing a direct and terrifying ultimatum. The caller demanded a staggering sum of Rs 10 crore and threatened to shoot the father and son dead inside their own shop if the money was not paid.
Police Action and Legal Framework
Sub-inspector Aditya Sharma, the Station House Officer (SHO) at Sarabha Nagar Police Station, confirmed that a formal case has been registered. An FIR has been filed under sections 308(2), 351(2), and 62 of the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against the individual known as Hari Boxer.
"Police are trying to trace the caller," SHO Aditya Sharma stated, highlighting the ongoing investigation to identify and apprehend the accused. The use of the new BNS sections indicates the seriousness with which the police are treating this case of attempted extortion and criminal intimidation.
A Pattern of Intimidation in Ludhiana
This alarming episode is not an isolated one in the region. The police report reveals that just two days before this incident, another garment trader in the Civil City area of Ludhiana faced violent retribution for ignoring an extortion call.
In that case, three unidentified men opened fire at the trader's shop. This pattern suggests that criminal elements are actively targeting business owners in the city, using fear and violence to try and extract large sums of money.
The back-to-back incidents have put the Ludhiana police on high alert and raised concerns among the business community about their safety. The investigation into the threat against Manpreet Singh and his son continues as authorities work to dismantle these extortion networks operating under the names of feared gangs.
