A convicted criminal who was out on bail has been accused of fracturing a scrap dealer's arm and skull with a knife after the victim refused to pay extortion money. The incident took place in the Killa Mohalla area of Ludhiana.
Details of the Attack
Local shopkeeper Satish Kumar, aged 42, reported that Shiva Bhatti, along with several accomplices, stormed into his business just hours after he had refused their demand for protection money, known locally as hafta. Satish had previously paid Bhatti sums of ₹2,000 and ₹3,000 under threat.
Satish stated: “Shiva threatened me over the phone hours before barging into my shop with his gang.” The Division Number 4 police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Bhatti, his brother Deepak Bhatti, an associate named Honey, and several unidentified suspects.
Charges Filed
Under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, charges include causing grievous injuries in an armed attack, criminal intimidation, armed rioting, and wrongful restraint. Sub-Inspector Jaspal Singh confirmed that the charges align with the official medical report from the civil hospital.
However, Satish criticized the investigation, alleging that the police initially downplayed the assault by logging it under simple scuffle charges, despite his fractures. Bhatti, who has a history of violent offenses including attempted murder, remains at large, with police tracking his location.
