Doctor, coloniser get extortion calls

PK Jaiswar\Nikhil Bhardwaj

A Beas-based doctor has received an extortion call for Rs 2 crore from Canada-based gangster Lakhbir Singh Landa, while a Ludhiana-based trader got a similar call from the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.

Designated terrorist Landa was booked by the Amritsar police for seeking extortion from doctor Gurbinder Singh of Rayya (Beas). The incident came to light when two bike-borne armed assailants opened fire outside his hospital on the intervening night of September 29 and 30.

The police said the victim received a call on his social media messaging platform. The caller identified himself as Landa Harike and asked him to pay Rs 2 crore or face dire consequences.

Ludhiana-based coloniser Inder Singh also received an extortion call from an alleged close aide of Lawrence Bishnoi. He had also received extortion calls from “associates” of Goldy Brar about a year ago, demanding Rs 10 crore from him. Inder Singh is also the halqa convener of the BJP in Ludhiana.

He said on Tuesday, he got Whatsapp calls from some foreign numbers. The caller identified himself as a member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. He asked him to pay money, else he and his family members would be killed.

The rise in extortion calls from foreign-based gangsters has become a major challenge for the police. Over 10 such cases have been reported in Amritsar and Tarn Taran alone.