New Delhi: The Delhi Police has busted three international crime and extortion modules operated by criminals Goldy Brar, Lawrence Bishnoi, Kala Jathedi, and Sampath Nehra, the national capital’s police force revealed Friday. Eight people have been arrested so far, including three juveniles, cops added.
These three modules, the police explained, were notorious for using children to intimidate and harass targets for money.
The accused ran the extortion rackets through the Signal app, a source said.
Describing the “bust” as a significant achievement, Special Commissioner of Police Ravindra Yadav said at a press conference, “All three modules were operating in different locations and had no connection with each other.”
Revealing the complex modus operandi of the syndicates, Yadav said, “International handlers were running these three modules. They had three different handlers.”
The police said the syndicates chose their extortion targets depending on an individual’s paying capacity, mostly those who had abundant cash flows like wealthy like property builders, gamblers, and business people. “If the concerned individual agrees and pays via hawala, the matter is then closed for the time being,” Yadav said.
However, if the individual rejected their demand, these groups let loose “shooters” to intimidate the target, Yadav said. “These shooters are usually juveniles recruited from the villages of Haryana, Delhi, and Rajasthan. They are between the ages of 15 and 18,” the Special CP added.
After recruitment, these juveniles are made to stay at different locations. Their stay, instruction on what to do etc were kept very close to the chest, the top officer said. Consequently, the juveniles were told to pick up a bike from distant locations, and a masked individual would provide them with firearms. “Most youth become shooters for the thrill of joining a criminal gang,” the officer said.
After given firearms, the young boys are asked to fire at windows, doors, or ceiling of the target’s office and even home, Yadav said, adding, “This is done purely to scare them.”
Once this is done, the targets would be called again from an international number and asked to pay up quickly. Threats would be made in the names Lawrence Bishnoi, Goldy Brar, and so on.
These kids are then sent back to their villages. Since they are strangers t the areas of operation, it is difficult to trace and identify them via CCTV. “We appeal to the youth through the media — this is a trap being laid for you by these criminals. They are luring you to become criminals. Joining a gang has no benefits. There is only darkness down this path — ending in jail or encounter,” he said.
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