Threat letters demanding Rs 80 lakh sent to eight Itwari jewellers in Lawrence Bishnoi gang's name

A key lead has emerged in the probe into threatening letters demanding Rs 80 lakh from eight jewellery traders in Nagpur's Itwari area. According to the police investigation, the letters were allegedly posted from a post box in Khamla. The threats were made in the name of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, and police are now trying to trace those behind them.

Police said the letters were posted on three different dates: October 20, 21 and 22. The envelopes were reportedly dropped in the Khamla post box, reached the Trimurti Nagar post office from there, and were then delivered to the targeted jewellers in Itwari.

Police are now going through CCTV footage from around the Khamla post box and other available information to identify those who posted the letters. Tehsil police have registered a case against unknown accused on the complaint of Nehal Tinkhede, a resident of Nandanvan and owner of Durga Jewellers on New Itwari Road.

The case took a new turn when an unidentified woman allegedly came to Tinkhede's shop on October 31, between 3 pm and 3.30 pm. She reportedly asked him for Rs 10 to buy postage stamps and handed him an envelope.

After the woman left, Tinkhede opened the envelope and found a threatening letter along with seven more envelopes. All seven carried the names and addresses of other jewellery traders in the Gandhibagh area. Police are investigating the woman's identity and her possible role in delivering the letters.

The letter allegedly claimed links to shooters from Mumbai who are said to be associated with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. It demanded Rs 10 lakh from each of the eight jewellers, a total extortion of Rs 80 lakh. The traders were allegedly given three days to raise the money. The letter threatened that if the money was not paid, the jewellers and their family members would have their throats slit.

The letter also warned against going to the police and threatened serious consequences if a complaint was made. It also allegedly said that after paying the money, a "Jai Shri Ram" poster had to be put up on the shop door. The threats have caused concern among the city's jewellery traders.

Following the incident, on Monday Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Rahul Madne and Tehsil police station Inspector Sanjay Mendhe held a meeting with office-bearers and members of the Nagpur Sarafa Association. DCP Madne assured the traders that police would extend full cooperation and that no lapse would be left in security arrangements. Police have been deployed in the area, and traders have been asked to share any information related to the case. Minister of State for Home Pankaj Bhoyar also reportedly contacted the association and assured it that police would take the investigation forward and take appropriate action.

Another matter came up at the meeting. Mahalaxmi Jewellers in Bhujade, which falls under the Pratap Nagar police station area, had allegedly received a similar threatening letter about a month and a half ago. The traders reportedly expressed concern that had the matter been taken seriously and an FIR registered then, the later threats to the eight jewellers might have been prevented.

For now, the Khamla post box remains the most important lead. Police are trying to establish who posted the letters, and whether those behind them are really connected to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang or merely used the gang's name to extort money by frightening the traders. Investigators also suspect a larger network behind the letters. Police officials have assured the jewellers that efforts are on to identify those responsible and arrest them at the earliest. The actual connection with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, if any, will become clear only in the investigation.