US-based gangster booked for making ransom calls to Abohar businessman

A notorious gangster, identified as Vishal Pachar alias Bablu — currently believed to be hiding in the US — allegedly called a mobile shop operator with a ransom demand of Rs 50 lakh. The shop operator, originally from Abohar, had relocated his business to Sriganganagar a few months earlier. A case has been registered.

The caller allegedly used foreign numbers to threaten the businessman, warning that if the amount was not paid, his shop and home would be set ablaze with petrol bombs. Given the severity of the threat, the Kotwali police have registered a case against Vishal and two other suspects, charging them with extortion and death threats.

The victim informed the police that on August 12, he received a call from a foreign number. The caller introduced himself as Vishal Pachar and instructed him to arrange Rs 50 lakh in two days. “Take care of both your shops. I will burn them down with petrol bombs,” he threatened.

On August 14, when the victim was at his shop, two suspicious persons entered his shop, threatened him with a pistol and then left.

Police said that Vishal, a native of Sriganganagar, has fled to the US on a fake passport. His name had come up in many criminal cases, particularly in the firing incident for extortion from the operators of Tantia General Hospital four years ago.

About three months ago, Sriganganagar police had arrested five miscreants with illegal weapons and a huge amount of heroin. The National Investigation Agency and the ATS/SOG wing of Rajasthan Police interrogated them rigorously, after which the name of Vishal emerged. Later, raids were conducted at the hideouts of some suspects.

During interrogation in custody, the suspects said they used to bring foreign weapons and heroin from Punjab and supply the same in Sriganganagar, Hanumangarh and Fazilka districts on Vishal’s instructions. Police believe he has been giving instructions to his henchmen from the US.