Three Men Arrested in Encounter Revealed to be Part of Extortion Gang Operated From Abroad
On Sunday, the police disclosed that the three men they apprehended after an encounter in Hoshiarpur were part of an extortion gang operated from abroad. The incident occurred on Saturday at Bhilowal village, approximately 15 km from Hoshiarpur. Two of the suspects sustained gunshot wounds during the encounter, while the third was captured unharmed.
The arrested individuals, identified as Manraj Raj, Navjot Singh, and Ravinder Singh, were found to be working for an extortion and robbery gang led by kingpin Balwinder Singh alias Binder, who was operating from abroad. Deputy Inspector General of Police, Swapan Sharma, revealed that Balwinder Singh, who was wanted in 18 cases in India, had illicitly traveled overseas and established an extortion racket with the assistance of his accomplices back home.
The police had received a tip-off that the trio would be arriving at a residence in Bhilowal to harm someone, prompting them to set up a trap. As the police lay in wait, the three men arrived at the house in a car and proceeded to the verandah. When the police ordered them to stop, the suspects opened fire. In response, the police fired back, injuring Manraj Raj and Navjot Singh. Ravinder Singh was apprehended without sustaining any injuries.
The injured suspects were admitted to a nearby government hospital for treatment. A case was registered against them under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Arms Act at the Chabbewal police station.
During their initial interrogation, the arrested individuals confessed to carrying out extortions under the instructions of Balwinder Singh. It was also revealed that Navjot Singh had previously been involved in five criminal cases, while Manraj Raj had two cases registered against him.
The police are continuing their investigation into the extortion gang and are working to gather more information about Balwinder Singh’s operations abroad. They aim to dismantle the network entirely and bring all those involved to justice.
This incident serves as a reminder of the increasing sophistication of criminal operations and the need for law enforcement agencies to remain vigilant and take swift action to combat such organized crime.
