CHANDIGARH: Punjab Police report a rise in extortion cases after two interviews with Lawrence Bishnoi.
A recent affidavit by the Punjab Police to the Punjab and Haryana High Court has revealed a slight increase in extortion and threatening calls, following two television interviews of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi aired in March 2023.
As per the affidavit, Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav reported that 278 FIRs related to extortion or threatening calls were registered from June 2022 to February 2023. This number rose to 307 FIRs from March 2023 to December 2023, resulting in a total of 585 cases before and after the interviews.
The High Court is examining the case related to Bishnoi’s interviews, aired on a private news channel. The Punjab Police’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) previously informed the court that the first interview took place in the Crime Investigation Agency premises in Kharar on the night of September 3-4, while the second interview was conducted when Bishnoi was in Rajasthan.
On August 7, the court noted a possible crime surge after the interviews were broadcast, and instructed the DGP to file an affidavit detailing FIRs, especially concerning extortion, ransom calls, abductions, and witness intimidation from March 2023 onwards and for the preceding nine months.
The affidavit highlighted that during the period from June 2022 to February 2023, 19 FIRs were filed for abduction or ransom calls, and three for witness intimidation. From March to December 2023, 16 FIRs were registered for abductions, while one was filed for witness intimidation. The DGP emphasised that tackling organised crime has been a top priority for the police.
“Free registration of crime, particularly those related to extortion and organised crime, has been emphasised to map the issue and counter it. The focus is on boosting police morale and professionalism in addressing organised crime,” the affidavit stated.
It also noted that several key figures in organised crime, including Arsh Dalla, Harvinder Singh (alias Rinda), Lakhbir Singh Landa, and Satinderjit Singh (alias Goldy Brar), were declared “individual terrorists” by the central government in 2023-24 based on inputs from the Punjab Police. Additionally, gangsters such as Sachin Thapan (alias Sachin Bishnoi), Vikramjit Singh Brar (alias Vicky), Mandeep Singh, and Manpreet Singh (alias Peeta) were repatriated from countries like Azerbaijan, the UAE, and the Philippines through collaboration between central agencies and the state police.
The affidavit also mentioned the successful extradition of Ramanjit Singh (alias Romi), the mastermind behind the 2016 Nabha Jail Break, from Hong Kong by the Punjab Police to face trial in India. Furthermore, the police have launched a campaign to curb unlawful social media activities by criminals, including the display of weapons and issuing threats.
In 2023-24, Punjab’s Cyber Crime Wing blocked 203 social media accounts used to promote criminal activities. Additionally, 201 FIRs were registered during the same period to prevent public displays of weapons and the glorification of gangsters, both online and offline, the affidavit added.