Jalandhar Shopkeeper Takes Matters Into His Own Hands After Police Fail to Act on Extortion Threats
In a dramatic turn of events in Jalandhar's Bhargo Camp area, a mobile shop owner turned the tables on two gangsters who had fired gunshots at his store. The businessman, identified as Ankush, owner of Chawla Mobile Point, pursued the assailants on his Activa scooter and successfully apprehended one of them.
Ankush stated that he had been receiving extortion calls for the past two years, which had made life unbearable for him and his family. The latest call, received on May 19, demanded a ransom of Rs 50 lakh. Despite repeatedly reporting these threats to the police, he claimed that no action was taken. He had even requested police protection but was denied.
Around 2:30 pm on Saturday, two bike-borne gangsters arrived at his showroom and opened fire. Instead of hiding, Ankush decided to confront them. He immediately grabbed his scooter and gave chase. He managed to grab one of the gangsters by the hair and also seized his motorcycle. The second assailant escaped. With the help of nearby shopkeepers, Ankush brought the captured gangster and his bike back to his showroom.
Outside the showroom, the gathered shopkeepers beat the gangster and handcuffed him with chains. They interrogated him about his accomplice and who had ordered the attack. The gangster was then held captive inside the shop.
When police arrived, the shopkeepers initially refused to hand over the accused. Officers, including SHO Rajinder Singh and DSP Aatish Bhatia, faced an angry crowd. They had to force open the shutter to enter the shop.
Political leaders, including BJP's Amit Taneja, former Congress MLA Rajinder Beri, and councillor Paramjot Singh Sherry Chadha, also arrived at the scene. They sided with the shopkeepers and criticized the police for two years of inaction, which they said drove the shop owner to such extreme measures.
Finally, CIA Staff Inspector Surinder Kumar took custody of the accused. ACP Bhatia confirmed that the gangster's phone and weapon had been recovered. He praised the shopkeeper's courage in apprehending the criminal.
