2 extortionists injured in encounter, arrested

The Nakodar police in Jalandhar foiled a planned firing attempt by apprehending two gangsters. The accused were already named in an extortion and firing case linked to threats issued by their gang members operating from abroad.

DSP Onkar Singh Brar told The Tribune here today that the case pertained to Manish Bakshi, alias Mannu, a resident of Nakodar city and proprietor of Bakshi Travel Company and BB School of IELTS. Bakshi has been running these business establishments for the last 17 years.

According to a complaint, on November 11, 2025, Bakshi received threatening calls from foreign mobile numbers. The callers claimed to be members of Goldy Brar and Rohit Godhra’s gang and demanded Rs 5 crore. Acting on the complaint, an FIR under Sections 308(5) and 352(3) of the BNS was registered at the Nakodar City Police Station on November 14.

The matter escalated on the intervening night of January 16 and 17, when the complainant received more threatening messages from these numbers, stating that shots had been fired outside his office premises due to non-payment of the money. Following this incident, another FIR was registered under Sections 308 (5), 351 (2), 125, 61 (2), 3 (5) of the BNS and Sections 25/27 of the Arms Act at the same police station on January 18.

Considering the seriousness of the case, special police teams were constituted under the directions of SSP, Jalandhar Rural, Harvinder Singh Virk. The operation was supervised by Brar himself and DSP Inderjit Singh Saini, with active participation from Inspector, CIA, Pushap Bali, SI Harminder Singh, SHO, Nakodar City Police Station, and SI Dilbagh Singh, SHO. Teams from the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) also coordinated closely during the operation.

On Tuesday, SI Harminder Singh, along with a police party, received inputs that the accused involved in the Bakshi firing case were roaming in the area with the intention of carrying out another firing. Acting swiftly, they planned an ambush and put up a check post on the link road from Bir village ‘phatak’ on Nurmahal road towards Sarkapur village.

When two suspects riding a motorcycle came, they were signalled to stop, but they opened fire at the police party. In self-defence, the police party retaliated.

During the encounter, accused Ankit Kumar sustained a gunshot injury and accused Harinder Gupta sustained a fracture in his leg.

Both accused were overpowered, taken into custody, and taken to hospital for medical treatment.

The police recovered one .30 bore pistol along with three cartridges from their possession.

The accused have been identified as Ankit Kumar, a resident of Bilolbaz village, Sitamarhi district, Bihar; who is presently residing in Basti Jodhewali, Ludhiana, and Harinder Gupta, a resident of Gorakhpur district in Uttar Pradesh, who is presently living at Jagat Nagar, Basti Jodhewali, Ludhiana.

The DSP stated that both accused were already named in the earlier FIRs and were again attempting to target the complainant due to his refusal to pay the extortion amount. Further investigation is under way to identify and apprehend other persons involved in the conspiracy.