2 held for demanding extortion

Amritsar, July 31

The Amritsar Rural Police have arrested two persons for allegedly demanding extortion from the owner of a medical store in Baba Bakala area here by posing as notorious gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria.

They had demanded Rs 6 lakh extortion money from him and threatened to shoot him in case he did not pay the ransom money. Following a preliminary probe, the police nabbed the accused, identified as Nishan Singh and Arshdeep, both residents of Thathia village.

Gurinderbir Singh, a resident of Baba Bakala, told the police that on May 28, he had gone to Canada to meet his brother. He got a WhatsApp call on July 6 and the caller identified himself as notorious gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria.

He said the caller threatened to give Rs 6 lakh within 20 minutes otherwise they would kill his family members. He got frightened and blocked the number. He tried to locate the caller on his own. He said he had returned from Canada a few days ago. He said on Saturday he was sitting in his chemist shop when two masked youths came on a motorcycle without registration number plate outside his shop.

He said they threatened him to face the dire consequences as he had failed to hand over the money. He later sped away from the spot. He said disturbed over this, he lodged a complaint with the Beas police.

SP Gupartap Singh Sahota said the police scanned CCTVs in the area and zeroed in on the duo. He said the accused were arrested on Sunday and brought on police remand for further investigations. They did not have any link with the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang.