Two held in Nagpur for demanding Rs 50,000 extortion from property dealer at gunpoint

Nagpur: Sadar police have arrested the men who demanded Rs 50,000 in weekly extortion money from a property dealer at gunpoint, a month after the incident.

On the evening of September 11, property dealer Vishal Mishra was sitting in a car with a friend, talking, at Gandhi Chowk in Sadar. Lakhan Hirnawar of Dharampeth and Aakash Katariya of Gawalipura, Sadar, arrived there with two other associates and blocked the path of Vishal's car. They told Vishal, "If you want to do property dealing, you will have to pay Rs 50,000." They also assaulted him and threatened to kill him at gunpoint.

The accused had been absconding since the case was registered. The police learnt that both were in Dharampeth and arrested them.

Cases of murder and under the NDPS Act are also registered against Lakhan Hirnawar. Aakash Katariya faces 11 cases, including assault, illegal possession of weapons and molestation. He had also been externed.

The real reason behind the case is said to be a gang war among criminals in Sadar. The man said to be the mastermind of this gang war is a well-known cricket bookie. He once sat at the cycle stand of Mayo Hospital. He is now said to be a favourite of several police personnel, including a woman officer of the Crime Branch. Several police actions are said to take place at his signal, and after action is taken he plays the role of mediator. At his signal, the notorious criminal Dhote smashed vehicles in Sadar. In that case, Sadar police registered only an NC case, whereas in the extortion case the police showed considerable promptness.