Woman delivers Lawrence Bishnoi gang extortion letter to eight Nagpur bullion traders

Nagpur: The demand for extortion in the name of notorious gangster Lawrence Bishnoi in Itwari Sarafa Bazaar in the Sub-Capital has caused a stir in the police department. Eight bullion traders have been threatened with death along with their families and asked to pay Rs 10 lakh each. Surprisingly, however, days after the incident the police have not been able to reach the woman who delivered the threatening letter. After the matter came to light, the police stirred into action, and Tehsil police have registered a case of extortion. The question now being asked is whom the police, who are responsible for the safety of traders, were waiting for all this time.

Pay Rs 10 lakh or be finished off with your family

According to trader sources, the episode began on the afternoon of October 30, although the police put it at the afternoon of October 31. Nehal Tinkhede, a resident of New Nandanvan, owns Durga Jewellery, a shop on Sarafa Bazaar Marg. At about 3 pm a woman came to his shop. She asked Nehal for a postage stamp worth Rs 10, handed him an envelope and left quickly. When Nehal opened the envelope, he found seven separate envelopes and a letter inside. The envelopes bore the names of seven other jewellers of Itwari. In the letter, the writer described themselves as the Mumbai shooter of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and told the traders to keep Rs 10 lakh each ready within three days. The traders were threatened with death along with their families if they did not pay. The letter also used abusive and obscene language. In all, extortion of Rs 80 lakh was demanded from the eight traders.

Complaint, then disclosure, then the police scramble

On receiving the threatening letter, panic spread through the Sarafa Bazaar. Nehal informed the market's office-bearers and other traders, and the matter was also taken to senior police officers. According to the traders, they were initially advised to keep the matter confidential and assured that it would be investigated. But when no concrete action was visible, their worry began to grow. On November 1 the matter was prominently exposed. Activity in the police department picked up after that. The crime branch and various police stations in the city were told to search for suspects. On Sunday night, Tehsil police registered a case of extortion against an unknown woman on Nehal Tinkhede's complaint.

Woman caught on camera, yet police empty-handed

The police have examined footage from CCTV cameras installed at the shop and in the surrounding area. The suspect can be seen coming and going. The police are now trying to identify her from the footage. But the fact that her whereabouts remain unknown two days after the incident raises questions about the pace of the investigation. Who is the woman? Who is behind her? Is this really the network of the Bishnoi gang, or has someone hatched a plot to frighten the traders by using the gang's name? The answers to these questions are yet to come.

Threat received a month and a half ago too, yet no lesson learnt

The most worrying aspect of the case is that on September 15, Rajkumar Bhujade, a bullion trader from the Pratap Nagar area, was also sent a letter by the Lawrence Bishnoi gang demanding Rs 5 lakh in extortion. That trader too was threatened with death along with his family. He had complained at Pratap Nagar police station. Even after that, the police did not learn their lesson. With eight traders in Itwari now threatened at once, the question arises whether those demanding extortion have become fearless, or whether the police's initial sluggishness has emboldened them.

Panic among traders, big challenge before police

Bullion traders say the threat cannot be taken lightly. The traders had also conveyed the developments to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Even so, the delay at the initial stage has added to their worry. Tehsil police have for now registered a case under Sections 308(4), 351(3) and 351(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Sections 384, 386 and 387 of the Indian Penal Code, and begun an investigation. The biggest challenge before the police now is to identify the suspect woman, reach the people behind the threatening letter, and find out whether the Lawrence Bishnoi gang's name has really been used or someone has used it as cover to frighten the traders.