Gurgaon: Police busted an extortion racket targeting street vendors and shopkeepers in Sadar, arresting two and launching a manhunt for others.On Friday, a paan shop owner, Ranjit Kumar Mahto, filed a complaint alleging that a group of locals had been extorting money from him for months.
An FIR was filed. The complainant said the accused, identified as Nitin, Himanshu, Sonu and their associates, demanded monthly payments of Rs 2,000 and threatened to kill him if he refused or continued his business without paying.Mahto, a native of Jharkhand, has been living in Jharsa for the past seven-eight years. He said he set up his kiosk on municipal land behind Unitech Cyber Park in Sector 39 after obtaining a licence from the municipal corporation.
Despite this, the accused allegedly asserted dominance over the area and forced him into paying under fear.Investigations revealed that the group targeted multiple street vendors and shopkeepers in the locality.Police said that the Sector 39 crime branch team, led by SI Mohit, acted immediately after the complaint was registered at Sadar police station. “Two accused, Nitin Kaushik and Himanshu Swami, both residents of Jharsa, were arrested within hours.
Nitin has a criminal history involving eight previous cases, including extortion, assault and attempt to murder, while another suspect, Shubham, who is currently absconding, is linked to nine criminal cases,” Sandeep Turan, police spokesperson, said.Raids are underway to arrest the remaining accused. “The action sends a strong message against street-level bullying and organised extortion. Any attempt to threaten or extort residents will lead to strict and immediate legal action,” Sandeep said.
