Gang found extorting toll tax from heavy vehicles at Ladhowal plaza
20 booked, role of employees at barrier being probed to check connivance
The Ludhiana police have registered a case against 20 unidentified persons for allegedly extorting money from heavy vehicles passing through the state’s most expensive Ladhowal Toll Plaza here. The gang members, after taking money from the vehicles, allowed them to cross the barrier without paying the toll fee.
The gang members also exerted influence on the staff of the toll barrier and by intimidating them, forced them to pass those heavy vehicles from which they had already extorted money without paying toll tax, an official said. The police, after getting a tip-off, registered a case on the charge of extortion at the Ladhowal police station.
ASI Mohammad Sadiq said that on February 4, when he, along with a police team, was present at the T-Point of Talwandi village, near GT Road, Ludhiana, an informer said during the day and night at the Ladhowal toll barrier, around 15-20 unidentified persons stop heavy vehicles and their transporters going from Ludhiana to Jalandhar and from Jalandhar to Ludhiana ahead of the toll barrier and collect the toll amount from them. After threatening toll employees who issue toll slips, they let the vehicles pass without the slips.
A gang might be active in extorting money from the commuters for a long time and in further probe, the suspects would be identified and arrested. The police would also question the toll barrier employees to get any clue about the gang members.
A senior police official said the role of Ladhowal toll barrier staff was also being examined as there was suspicion that they might be involved in the extortion racket. The police would question the employees and if their role comes to light, they might also face legal action.
“If the extortion mafia is allowing heavy vehicles to pass without paying any toll fee by intimidating the toll employees, the practice would have been causing huge revenue losses to the authorities. The police will not spare the miscreants who were behind the racket,” the official said.
