Rise in extortion incidents in Tarn Taran district

Tarn Taran, August 11

Incidents of firing outside houses of innocent people, who refuse to pay extortion to gangsters, are increasing in the district with each passing day. Hardev Singh, a resident of Dadehar Sahib village, in his complaint to the Sarhali police stated that two masked armed persons opened fire at his house on the intervening night of August 9-10. He said earlier, gangsters had fired at his house for ransom two months ago. The victim said gunshots crossed the gate of his house when gangsters fired into the air.

The victim said he had been avoiding mobile phone calls from suspected numbers as callers often demanded ransom. In another incident, armed suspects fired outside houses in front of the Government Elementary School in Piddi village on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday. After the firing incident, panic gripped the village. The police visited the spot and registered a case in this connection.

In the third incident, gangsters demanded extortion from a Valtoha-based reporter. In many cases, victims hesitate to report the ransom calls and threats to the police and make efforts to settle things with gangsters on their own. — OC