AMRITSAR: The Amritsar city police on Scpt.23 arrested five members of a gang who extorted money from social businessmen by threatening him with die consequences, if they refused to pay up.

They used to extort the amount by using Letter heads belonging to the Khalistan Armed Forces (Uboke).

The Superintendent of Police, S.S.Chima told newsmen, in the presence of the members of the gang and their parents, the circumstances leading to the emergence of the gang. Sajjan Singh, son of Giani Bhagat Singh, subeditor of Sant Sepai, a weekly and a resident of Butighar area here, was in contact with Bhai Chanchal Singh Uboke, KAE chief, who had taken loan of Rs 21,000 from him, Ubok could not repay the amount but handed over five Letter heads of his organization to Sajjan Singh, authorizing him to use them for extorting money from residents of the city.

Chima said that one letter each was sent to D.S. Sandhu, SDO, Irrigation, Satwinder Singh a shop owner of Lawrence Road, Ravinder Singh, a resident of Green Avenue and secretary Mata Kalum Hospital, Gurmet Singh, an auto dealer and C. Chaman, DO, Irrigation, demanding amounts ranging from Rs two to seven lakh,

In response to the threat letters, Satwinder Singh negotiated with the gang members and paid Rs 25,000 instead of Rs two lakh that had been demanded. Satwinder Singh, who was present at the press conference said that he would not have paid the money but Sajjan Singh threatened to kidnap his children.

D.S, Sandh, who was asked to pay Rs three lakh also negotiated with them and paid Rs 25,000.

The remaining three persons handed over the letters to the police. One businessman made his own security arrangements while the other two sought police protection.

Meanwhile, the gang, thought of publishing some more letterheads of the KAF for continuing the “business” of extortions. Prof Sukhdev Singh Baba a lecturer in physical education, Guru Nanak Dev University, was approached by Sajjan Singh for getting the letter-heads printed, disclosed China.

He said that Prof Sukhdev Singh approached Charan Singh, a second year student of Khalsa College here, who in turn, sought the help of his friend Surinder Singh, another student of the same college, who denuted Kanwaljit Singh. The letterheads were printed at the Nai Daur printing press.

Ravinder Singh, a businessman who was going to Sadar police station recognized Charan Singh, who passed him near the police station. He banged his car into Charan Singh’s scooter, but the latter managed to escape. The police succeeded in arresting the youths on the basis of clues found in the scooter.

Before handing over the youths to their parents at the lot Wali here, the police introduced them to the newsmen.

Chima said that since the young boy, had realized their mistake and assured him that such acts would not be repeated. The police has decided not to press charges against them. The youths were later handed over to their parents. The police, however did not allow newsmen to take their photographs.

Article extracted from this publication >> October 9, 1992